Addressing the Family Planning Crisis in Akwa Ibom: Challenges and Opportunities

Health challenges for women and girls of reproductive age in Akwa Ibom State have worsened due to a lack of family planning supplies in primary healthcare centers, especially in rural areas.

A visit to some local government areas highlighted rising poverty, unintended teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths. According to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Akwa Ibom has the highest rate of abortion among young people and ranks high in teenage pregnancies (12%). The maternal mortality rate in the state is 520 deaths per 100,000 live births.

In Itu Local Government Area, a community leader expressed concern over increasing maternal deaths and teenage pregnancies, emphasizing the importance of family planning in preventing complications like Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF). He stated:
“Family planning reduces health risks for women, giving them more control over their lives and opportunities for education and employment.”

Young people in the communities expressed difficulty accessing family planning services due to the lack of supplies and unaffordable fees at healthcare facilities. For example, at a health center in Ukanafun, a shortage of family planning options left some residents disappointed.

A resident shared how family planning improved her life:
“It allows proper child spacing and helps me contribute to the family’s upkeep. It’s not about how many children you have, but how well you can care for them.”

However, cases of mentally ill pregnant women in Uyo highlight another gap in reproductive health services. Many of these women, repeatedly exploited, lack support for family planning and face severe risks.

Family planning advocates, including The Challenge Initiative (TCI), stress that reproductive health is a right for everyone, not just married couples. Dr. Taiwo Johnson of TCI urged stakeholders to ensure women have access to resources for informed reproductive choices.

Despite efforts to raise awareness, Akwa Ibom’s unmet family planning needs remain high at 32%. The state relies heavily on donor support for supplies, as the government has yet to release approved funds for family planning programs. Mrs. Enobong Eshiet, the state’s Family Planning Coordinator, lamented the lack of funding:
“We’ve had approved budgets, but no funds released. Without contributions to the national basket fund, our supply of commodities remains limited.”

Advocacy efforts continue to push policymakers to prioritize funding for family planning, ensuring women and girls can access the services they need.