Changing Realities and Entrenched Norms: A Case study of communication, Knowledge, Power, Gender, & Decisionmaking in Child Spacing Delivery Services in Nigeria

Abstract

Demand for and utilization of women‘s health services in northern Nigeria are consistently low and health indicators in the region are
among the poorest in the world. Access to modern contraception among women continues to be stifled by entrenched social norms.
Using data from focus group discussions and informant interviews, the study explores the social norms shaping decisions about family planning among people of selected communities. Data were collected through four focus group discussions and eighteen semi-structured interviews conducted with purposefully selected community members and health personnel. The social norms which expect people to have as many children as possible remains well established. It is, however, under competitive pressure from the existing norm which makes spacing of pregnancies socially desirable. The social norm of having as many children as possible is also under competitive pressure from the emerging norm that equates taking good care of one’s children with providing them with a good education, food and healthcare.