In this report, ENE OSHABA explores the impact of funding gaps in Nigeria’s family planning programmes, highlighting how stockouts of contraceptives negatively affect women’s health, economic stability, and family dynamics.
Nigeria, with its rapidly growing population of over 200 million people, is grappling with a range of socio-economic challenges, many of which are directly tied to the country’s high fertility rate. Family planning is an essential pillar for addressing these challenges, promoting maternal health, and ensuring sustainable economic growth. However, despite the recognition of its significance, Nigeria faces substantial barriers to achieving meaningful progress in family planning, primarily due to chronic stockouts of contraceptives and an ongoing funding gap for FP programmes.
These issues are not merely theoretical, they have a profound and direct impact on the lives of Nigerian women, their families, and the country’s broader socio-economic health.
Funding gaps
The relationship between funding and family planning services in Nigeria has always been fraught with challenges. For many years, family planning was relegated to the back burner in terms of national priorities, resulting in minimal government funding for the procurement of essential contraceptives.
This lack of investment led to chronic shortages at the grassroots level, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Despite previous international aid efforts, the situation remained dire.
The government’s response was insufficient to meet the needs of a population grappling with high fertility rates.
Recent developments, however, offer some hope. In 2024, the Nigerian government allocated $4 million for the procurement of family planning commodities, a modest but critical step toward addressing the issue. While this allocation marks a positive change, the real challenge lies in the disbursement and efficient utilisation of these funds.
As a public health specialist with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Joachim Chigide, pointed out during a recent media briefing: “The key issue is not just the allocation of funds, but ensuring they are properly released and used to procure essential commodities. This is what will truly make a difference in preventing stockouts.”
Unfortunately, despite the 2024 funding allocation, the gap between required and disbursed funds remains substantial.
The data shows a growing discrepancy between the amount of funding needed for FP programs and what is actually provided, which has a significant impact on the availability of contraceptives for Nigerian women.
The annual funding gap for family planning commodities has persisted for years. Even with modest financial support, the country continues to face shortfalls in providing the right quality and quantity of family planning commodities for millions of women across the country.
As highlighted in the UNFPA fact sheet, the Nigerian government’s contribution to the National Contraceptive Basket Fund has remained inconsistent, with many states struggling to secure sufficient funding.
Stockouts, a crisis for women
Stockouts of family planning commodities in Nigeria’s health centers have a direct and harmful impact on women. Without access to reliable contraceptives, women face an increased risk of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths. In Nigeria, about 846,253 unintended pregnancies occur annually, resulting in 346,082 unsafe abortions and an estimated 10,280 maternal deaths each year, according to UNFPA’s 2024 report.
Increased fertility rates lead to a multitude of complications, both health-wise and socio-economically. When a woman is unable to plan her pregnancies, she becomes more likely to have children when she is not financially or emotionally prepared. This often results in higher maternal mortality rates, as Nigerian women face one of the highest maternal death ratios in the world. Many deaths could be avoided if family planning programs were adequately funded and if contraceptives were consistently available.
Chigide explained furthermore that, unintended pregnancies often lead to unsafe abortion procedures due to a lack of access to legal and medical abortion services.
Unsafe abortions account for a significant proportion of maternal deaths in Nigeria, contributing to the country’s dire maternal health statistics. For women in rural areas, access to safe abortion services is further limited, exacerbating the health risks they face.
In addition to the health risks, stockouts also contribute to significant economic hardships for Nigerian families. When women have more children than they can afford to care for, it places additional pressure on household resources. Families are less able to invest in the education, health, and well-being of their children, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
Family planning in Nigeria’s demographic dividend
One of the key drivers of Nigeria’s socio-economic future is the demographic dividend, the potential economic benefits that can be reaped from a youthful and productive population. However, achieving this dividend is contingent on managing population growth effectively, particularly through access to family planning.
Nigeria is one of the youngest countries in the world, with 75.per cent of its population under the age of 34. This youthful demographic presents both challenges and opportunities.
On the one hand, a growing population creates demands for healthcare, education, and job opportunities. On the other hand, with the right policies, this young population can be harnessed as a source of economic growth.
Chigide maintained that family planning plays a critical role in ensuring that the country can take advantage of this demographic boom. By controlling fertility rates, women are able to invest in their careers, their health, and the health of their children.
Family planning allows women to space their pregnancies and have children when they are economically and emotionally ready. This can lead to increased workforce participation, better educational outcomes for children, and ultimately, a more productive and stable society.
On his part, Chairman of the Technical Management Committee of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP), Dr. Ejike Oji, underscored the importance of family planning in unlocking Nigeria’s demographic potential.
“If we continue to delay or ignore family planning investments, we risk not only the health and well-being of Nigerian women but also the economic future of the country. The demographic dividend is real, but it requires strategic investments in reproductive health services to realise it,” he stressed.
According to Oji, Nigeria’s high population growth presents both challenges and opportunities. While there is immense potential for economic growth, failure to manage population growth effectively could overwhelm the country’s infrastructure and social services.
Family planning is not merely a tool for reducing birth rates but a means of empowering women, improving health outcomes, and creating a foundation for future economic prosperity.
Women, families, and crisis at home
Continuing, Oji stressed that the impact of family planning stockouts extends beyond individual health issues, it creates a cascade of social problems that affect entire families.
Unplanned pregnancies can lead to financial strain, emotional distress, and relationship instability within households. In many cases, the stress caused by unplanned pregnancies leads to significant conflict between partners, resulting in strained marriages and, in some cases, domestic violence.
For Nigerian women, the fear of an unplanned pregnancy often affects not just their physical health but their emotional well-being as well. Women who feel that they are unable to control the number of children they have may experience increased levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. This, in turn, affects their relationships with their partners. In some households, couples may choose to avoid sexual relations altogether, as the fear of pregnancy overrides any desire for intimacy.
This can contribute to relationship breakdown, particularly in cases where there is a lack of mutual understanding about family planning.
“Family planning is not just about preventing pregnancy; it is about fostering trust and mutual respect within the family,” says Dr. Oji.
“When women have control over their reproductive health, they are more likely to have healthier relationships with their partners, leading to stronger, more harmonious homes,” he added.
In this way, family planning serves as a tool not only for individual health but also for the broader stability of families and communities.
Without family planning, Nigeria risks experiencing increasing social instability, as more and more families struggle with the burden of raising children in an already economically strained environment.
The burden of unplanned pregnancies falls disproportionately on women, but it also affects their male partners. As much as men may not always be involved in contraceptive decisions, they too are impacted when a family faces financial strain due to unplanned children.
Addressing family planning from a gender-inclusive perspective is essential for long-term stability.
Need to engage men as partners
While much of the conversation about family planning focuses on women, it is equally important to include men in these discussions. In Nigeria, decisions about contraception are often made by women alone, despite the fact that both partners are equally affected by the outcomes of these decisions. To truly make family planning more effective, men must be seen as partners, not bystanders.
Dr. Chigide emphasizes the need to engage men in family planning initiatives. “Men must take an active role in family planning decisions. Family planning should be a shared responsibility, and both partners must work together to make informed choices. When men are involved, it leads to better outcomes for women and families.”
By involving men in family planning discussions, we can create a more supportive environment for women to make decisions about their reproductive health.
Additionally, educating men about the benefits of family planning, such as reducing the financial strain on families and improving maternal health, can help break down barriers to contraceptive use.
Men’s involvement also includes improving knowledge and addressing misconceptions. Many Nigerian men still view family planning as a woman’s issue, often driven by outdated cultural and religious beliefs. Educating men about the physical, emotional, and economic benefits of family planning is crucial for achieving long-term success.
Economic benefits
Investing in family planning is not just a health or social issue; it is a financial one. According to a recent UNFPA fact sheet, every $1 invested in family planning in Nigeria will yield a return of $69.3. This return comes from a variety of channels, including reduced healthcare costs, improved educational outcomes, and greater workforce participation.
By enabling families to have fewer children, resources can be better allocated to each child’s education and healthcare, which results in a more skilled and productive population. Additionally, family planning helps reduce the economic strain on governments by lowering the costs associated with high population growth, such as building infrastructure and providing social services. It also empowers women to participate more fully in the labor market, further boosting the economy.
Family planning conference
Against the backdrop of these challenges, the upcoming 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference, scheduled for December 2024, offers an important opportunity for stakeholders to address these issues.
Dr. Oji, who is also the chairman local organising committee (LOC) for the conference, noted that it was aimed at to catalysing renewed commitment to family planning, advocating for increased investment in reproductive health services, and finding practical solutions to bridging the gap between policy intentions and ground-level implementation.
With the theme: ‘Sustaining Commitments for Family Planning within Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Programmes’, the conference will focus on strengthening multi-stakeholder accountability, addressing barriers to family planning service delivery, and advocating for increased funding at both the federal and state levels.
“The conference will also explore innovative approaches to improving the accessibility of contraceptives, particularly in underserved regions, and provide a platform for collaborative efforts between the government, healthcare providers, and civil society organisations,” he said.
Bridging policy-implementation gaps
One of the key challenges facing Nigeria’s family planning efforts is the disconnect between policy commitments and their implementation at the grassroots level.
While the federal government has made significant pledges, including the 1 per cent allocation of the national health budget to family planning, the reality on the ground is starkly different.
The funding gap exacerbates this issue, leaving women and healthcare providers to deal with the consequences of insufficient support. The upcoming conference would tackle this issue head-on by bringing together key stakeholders to discuss how to bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring that family planning commitments are translated into tangible outcomes.
Equity, inclusion
Another critical aspect that would be discussed at the conference is the need for equitable access to family planning services. Despite the importance of family planning in improving health outcomes and reducing poverty, many marginalised populations in Nigeria, such as rural communities, adolescents, and women in conflict-affected areas, still face significant barriers to accessing services.
The conference will emphasize the need for targeted interventions that address the unique needs of these groups and ensure that no one is left behind in the country’s family planning efforts.
Way forward
The 2024 funding gap for family planning commodities in Nigeria represents a significant threat to the health and well-being of Nigerian women. Without adequate funding, millions of women will be denied access to essential contraceptive services, leading to higher rates of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths. This, in turn, will place a strain on the healthcare system and exacerbate existing economic and social challenges.
However, the upcoming 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference presents a crucial opportunity to address these issues. By fostering collaboration, advocating for increased investment, and finding innovative solutions to the challenges facing the country’s family planning programs, stakeholders can work together to ensure that Nigerian women have access to the services they need to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
In the end, the future of family planning in Nigeria will depend on the commitment of both the government and civil society to prioritising the health and rights of women.
The 2024 funding gap serves as a reminder of the critical importance of family planning in Nigeria’s overall development and the urgent need for sustained investment in this area.
If Nigeria is to achieve its family planning goals and improve the health and well-being of its citizens, it must act now to address the funding shortfall and ensure that every woman has access to the care she needs.
