By Usman Aliyu
When 32-year-old Amaka* walked into a health centre in Ulemon, Benin City, to inquire about family planning, she had already made up her mind that she wouldn’t be taking any injections.
“My neighbour told me the injection makes women fat and can cause infertility. Another woman said it caused heavy bleeding that didn’t stop,” she said, her voice tinged with fear.
Stories like Amaka’s are not rare in Edo State. Despite the availability of free or subsidised family planning services in many public health facilities, myths and misconceptions remain a major barrier to uptake.
In a state where women bear the brunt of economic hardship and rising food prices, access to family planning should be a lifesaver — but stigma, misinformation, and cultural bias stand in the way.
Mrs Sarah Ehiagator, a nurse and reproductive health expert based in Benin City, said that fear of side effects is one of the most common reasons women reject modern contraceptives.
“There’s a lot of hearsay in communities — women are told that implants will ‘roam’ inside their bodies, or that intrauterine devices (IUDs) can cause cancer. These stories spread faster than facts,” she explained.
Another persistent myth, according to him, is that family planning is a scheme to make African women infertile.
“This belief is particularly strong among older, less-educated women and is sometimes reinforced by religious or traditional leaders who see family planning as an affront to fertility and divine will,” she added.
According to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) by Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) for modern methods among married women in Edo State stands at 20.7 per cent — a figure higher than the national average of 16.6 per cent but still far below the target needed to reduce unintended pregnancies and maternal deaths.
Additionally, NDHS 2018 data shows that 16 per cent of women in Edo State reported an unmet need for family planning — meaning they want to delay or stop childbearing but are not using any method. This figure is even higher in rural areas, where access to health education is limited.
Joy Osadolor, a mother of five living in Ekpoma, wished she had better information earlier.
“After my third child, I wanted to stop, but my mother-in-law warned me that using family planning would mean I’d never conceive again,” she said. “Now, we are struggling to feed, and my husband’s salary is not enough.”
Her story reflects the economic realities many families face. According to the Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (2022), over 63 per cent of people in Nigeria experience multidimensional poverty — with access to healthcare, education, and adequate nutrition among the most significant deprivations. In this context, family planning offers a key pathway to economic relief for low-income families.
Dr Mobolaji Akinrinmade, a sexual and reproductive health specialist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), explained that while no method is without possible side effects, most are minor and manageable.
“Weight gain, for example, may occur with hormonal methods like injectables or implants, but it varies from person to person and is usually reversible.
“Infertility, on the other hand, is a myth — most women resume fertility soon after stopping contraception,” she clarified.
She added that counseling and follow-up are key to helping women choose methods that suit their bodies and lifestyles.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. A woman with heavy menstrual flow might not be suited for certain hormonal options, but a trained provider will guide her appropriately,” she explained.
Organisations like The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Development Communication Network (DevCom) and Society for Family Health (SFH) are working with the Edo State to scale up awareness, especially in hard-to-reach communities.
Through door-to-door campaigns, radio jingles in local languages, and male-involvement programmes, they are debunking myths and offering fact-based information.
Encouragingly, some women are beginning to speak out to challenge the stigma. In Etsako West, 29-year-old Salamatu* who uses an IUD says it had helped her regain control of her life.
“I have peace of mind now. My husband and I can plan better for our children’s education,” she said.
The Edo State government has made efforts to stock primary healthcare centres with a range of family planning commodities and train frontline health workers. In 2024, community health extension workers (CHEWs) were retrained on family planning counseling techniques.
Still, experts stress that access must be coupled with trust.
“The myths won’t go away overnight. But if women are consistently exposed to accurate information and treated with respect at health centres, we will start to see a change,” Dr Akinrinmade said.
Demystifying myths about family planning in Edo State requires more than information — it requires empathy, cultural sensitivity, and consistent community engagement.
Women like Amaka, Joy, and Salamatu deserve accurate, respectful care that empowers them to make informed choices.
As the saying goes, when women are supported to plan their families, they plan better futures — for themselves, their children, and their communities.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
