‘How Nigeria can improve modern contraceptive prevalence rate, others’
The uptake of family planning in Nigeria is still bedevilled with a lot of challenges. Six years to 2030, the country is far from achieving its family planning goals and commitments including for modern contraceptive prevalence rates (mCPR). Modern contraceptive prevalence rates is the percentage of women aged 15-49 years who are using, or whose […]
The uptake of family planning in Nigeria is still bedevilled with a lot of challenges. Six years to 2030, the country is far from achieving its family planning goals and commitments including for modern contraceptive prevalence rates (mCPR).
Modern contraceptive prevalence rates is the percentage of women aged 15-49 years who are using, or whose partner is using, at least one modern method of contraception.
Modern contraception includes condoms (male and female) injectables, emergency contraceptive pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and sterilisation, among others.
The country is still battling stagnant modern contraceptive prevalence rates, and alarming maternal mortality rates.
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By the end of the year 2030, Nigeria envisions a country where everyone, including adolescents, young people, populations affected by the crisis, and other vulnerable populations, can make informed choices, have equitable and affordable access to quality family planning, and participate as equals in society’s development.
Nigeria has made commitments under FP 2030 and is also part of the FP 2030 global movement dedicated to transforming lives by ensuring access to quality family planning services, empowering women and girls, and driving sustainable development for a healthier, more equitable society.
Experts say there is a need for increased efforts and innovative strategies on advancing progress towards achieving FP 2030 goals.
Modern contraceptive prevalence rate Dr Ejike Oji, Chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) Management Committee said mCPR also means the number of women of reproductive age per 100 that are using modern family planning methods.
Oji, who is also a reproductive health and population expert said Nigeria had told the Global Partnership on Family Planning (FP) 2030, that by 2030 Nigeria would increase contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) from 12% to 27%.
He said, “Let me give you an example. For almost 10 to 15 years, the contraceptive prevalence rate of Nigeria was at 10%, and then it marginally increased to 12%. The last Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2018 NDHS) data show that the rate is now 15%. So, there’ is a marginal increase of about 3% , that means for every 100 women, only 15% of them are using modern methods of contraception.
“We have barely six years to go. So, that means between now and 2030 we should increase our mCPR by about 12%. So, it is not going to be an easy ride. If we want to achieve that, then we have to robustly do something.”
Unmet need
Dr Oji said unmet need for family planning commodities is one major challenge that needs to be addressed to achieve the modern contraceptive prevalence rate.
He said unmet need means women who say, “I want to use family planning, but they are not getting the services.”
Oji who is also Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the eight family planning conference, said the unmet need rate in the country was 19% and is now currently 21%, adding, “This means that the demand generation being done by the government and international development partners is yielding some measure of results, meaning the demand for family planning is increasing, but the uptake is not increasing as we want it to be, and that’s why the family planning conversation.”
Also, former Minister of Health, Professor Isaac F. Adewole, said Nigeria’s unmet need for family planning is still high, particularly among adolescents and marginalized communities, noting that “We must continually seek opportunities to close the gap and inversely increase the modern contraceptive prevalence rate. ”
Funding for family planning
Experts say funding or domestic resources for family planning has been very poor. They said when budgetary allocations are made, releases become another problem.
Dr Oji on his part said reproductive health and population experts advocated for budgetary allocation for family planning in 2013 and that Nigeria was able to approve $3 million for family planning counterpart fund based on what the donors were giving to the country. “UNFPA was the organisation that was helping us manage that, because they have been the ones bringing in commodities for us, using economic subscale to get us the best fit for our resources,” he said.
He said the release of that $3 million was met with challenges.
He said Prof Isaac Adewole later increased it to $4 million. However, he added that when the minister left, there was no release of the funds by the immediate past administration for almost three years.
“But luckily, the current Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate has been able to release the $4 million for that counterpart support, and then is going to release an additional N2 billion allocated for family planning commodities in the 2024 budget,” he said.
The importance of family planning
According to the former Minister of Health, Professor Isaac F. Adewole, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, partly due to limited access to family planning services.
He said over 19% of married women in Nigeria have an unmet need for contraception, leading to unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and increased health risks.
Adewole, said effective family planning reduces these challenges, enabling women to space and limit births, which enhances their health and economic productivity.
He said, “Moreover, it contributes to national development by curbing population growth and alleviating pressure on resources such as education, healthcare and employment. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with a population exceeding 200 million.
“The country faces significant challenges related to reproductive health, including high maternal and infant mortality rates, unplanned pregnancies, and limited access to contraceptive methods. Family planning provides a pathway to address these challenges by allowing individuals and couples to make informed choices about their reproductive health. Effective family planning services can reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve quality of life and economic empowerment, particularly for women.”
Dr Oji said $1 invested in contraceptive services saves $3 in maternal and newborn health costs by reducing unintended pregnancies.
He explained that family planning saves lives, reduces maternal and infant mortality, promotes gender equity, and also advances social and economic progress.
He said, “These savings unlock critical investments in education, infrastructure and healthcare, fostering the conditions needed to achieve Nigeria’s demographic dividend. In Nigeria, family planning programmes are making strides, but challenges persist. Disparities in access shaped by regional, educational, and socioeconomic differences continue to deny millions of women and girls the autonomy to make decisions about their reproductive health.”
He further said high fertility rates, coupled with low family planning uptake, contribute to poor maternal and child health outcomes and exacerbate rapid population growth.
He added that these challenges demand renewed urgency, innovation, and collaboration to achieve the FP2030 target.
Koessan Kuawu, Deputy Representative, United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA) said family planning is critical for attaining all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs). He further said there is a return investment of more than $100 for every $1 invested in family planning.
The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Ibrahim Anas said family planning is not just a health issue but as a developmental agenda, adding that poor family planning uptake has been a significant problem with far-reaching consequences on health and other outcomes, especially for mothers and children.
Experts speak on way forward
‘Nigeria needs 2% yearly contraceptive rate to meet family planning goals’
Dr Funmilola OlaOlorun, the Co-Principal Investigator, Performance Monitoring for Action/Nigeria, and Co-chair, Scientific Subcommittee, International Conference on Family Planning, Columbia, said the country could not continue business as usual.
She warned that it would take five years to add a 2% increase in the modern contraceptive prevalence rate if the country continued business as usual.
OlaOlorun said Nigeria needs to increase her modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) by 2% every year in other to meet her family planning 2030 targets.
She said, “But what we need to do is to increase the modern contraceptive prevalence rate by a two percentage point increase every single year between now and 2030.”
Prof Adewole said the inclusion of family planning in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme ensures that these services are accessible and affordable for all Nigerians, irrespective of economic status.
He said, “Cultural and societal norms continue to shape perceptions and acceptance of family planning services. Global economic pressures threaten the sustainability of funding for reproductive health programs, so we must continue to look beyond the routines or ordinary. As we deliberate at this conference, we must work together to find inclusive, innovative, and context-specific solutions.”
He said the future of family planning in Nigeria depends on three key strategies:
-Expanding access to services through integrating family planning into primary healthcare systems and ensuring every health facility is equipped to meet the community’s needs.
-Deepening diversity, equity, and inclusiveness ensures that no one is left behind, regardless of location, age, socio-economic status, or ethnic group.
-Sustaining progress by fostering multisectoral partnerships, embracing data-driven decision-making, and creating a culture of accountability among all stakeholders.
He said, “We must prioritise young people, representing most of our population, by making family planning services youth-friendly and accessible. We must also leverage technology and innovative outreach methods to reach the last mile.
“Family planning is a cornerstone of our health system and a key driver of national development. As we deliberate over the next few days, let us focus on actionable solutions that address the needs of the most marginalised, vulnerable, and underserved populations. I urge all stakeholders, policymakers, healthcare providers. Donors, community advocates, and the private sector to join hands to accelerate our progress. The time to act is now!”
“How To sustain commitments and accelerate progress towards FP2030′
Prof Adewole further said sustaining commitments to family planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative is essential for addressing the reproductive health needs of the population and advancing progress toward FP2030 goals.
“By prioritising family planning through effective policy, increased funding, capacity building, community engagement. With data-driven approaches, Nigeria can enhance its health system and empower individuals to make informed choices about their reproductive health. As the nation strives to achieve its health objectives, integrating family planning into the broader health sector renewal efforts will promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life for all Nigerians,” he stated.
Also speaking during the recent 8th family planning conference, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Mrs Amina Mohammed said to sustain our commitment and accelerate progress towards FP2030, government, civil society, healthcare providers, communities, the private sector, development partners, and other stakeholders must collaborate effectively.
She said, “The United Nations system, through agencies such as UNFPA and WHO, will continue to support the FP2030 initiative to ensure more women and girls can access these essential services by 2030.”
Represented by the United Nations UN – Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, she urged all stakeholders to adopt a bold, innovative and inclusive approach.
She said, “Together, let us work towards ending preventable maternal mortality, addressing unmet FP needs and eradicating gender-based violence and harmful practices. Together, we can create a future where every woman, every girl and every family in Nigeria can thrive. Let this conference serve as a moment of renewed determination, strategic dialogue, and actionable solutions.”
FG committed to 27% modern contraceptive rate by 2030
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate said the federal government is committed to achieving a modern contraceptive prevalence (mCPR) rate of 27% by 2030.
He said the FP 2030 goal aligns with the administration’s health sector reforms to ensure that Nigerians of reproductive age have access to comprehensive, affordable, and high-quality healthcare services.
He said, “Family planning is critical to managing population growth and addressing maternal and infant morbidity. We have made significant progress, with fertility rates declining from six children per woman in 1990 to 4.8 today. The modern contraceptive prevalence rate has risen from 4% to 15%.”
He called for the empowerment of young people, who make up over half of Nigeria’s population, with youth-friendly family planning services. “We need to provide adolescents and young adults with accurate information and accessible resources to make informed reproductive choices,” he said.
He also said there was a need to address the cultural and religious barriers that prevent many Nigerians from accessing family planning services, adding, “We need to engage with community leaders, faith-based organisations, and traditional rulers to promote accurate information and build trust.”