Knowledge and use of modern contraceptives among Muslim women in Zaria, Nigeria

Sa'adatu Sule, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Hajara Umar, Ahmadu Bello University
Nana Madugu, Ahmadu Bello University

Majority of the population of northern Nigeria are Muslims and complications of high parity are important causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in this area. In order to determine the knowledge and use of modern contraceptives among Muslim women in Zaria and recommend ways to increase uptake, two hundred Muslim women in Zaria were interviewed between August 1 and October 31, 2003. Majority (92.5%) had some knowledge about modern contraceptives but only 9% knew >3 methods and hospitals were their commonest source of information. The rate of previous contraceptive use was 21% while current use was 13%. The unmet need for contraception was 27.1% mainly due to fear of side effects (60%) and husband’s disapproval (26.7%). 24.4% believed that contraception was unislamic, of whom 58.1% had Islamic education alone (p = 0.04). The knowledge about modern contraceptives and the position of Islam on contraception requires improvement among Muslims in Zaria.