SOCIETY FOR FAMILY HEALTH (SFH) AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES IN CHIKUN LGA OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Kaduna State continues to grapple with an unacceptably poor health indices and
heavy disease burden. Infant mortality rate is at 103/1000, maternal mortality
rate at 800/100,000, under five mortality rate at 170/1000 and HIV
prevalence rate at 5.1%. Therefore, this study interrogated the Contribution of
Society for Family Health (SFH) on Reproductive Health Services in Chikun LGA
of Kaduna State. The study postulated that there is no relationship between the
SFH programme and provision of reproductive health services in Chikun LGA of
Kaduna State. Contract Failure Theory by Hansmann (1980) had been adopted
as theoretical framework to give structure to the study. Both primary and
secondary sources of data were used in the study. It was unveiled that;
insufficiency of funds, ignorance and limited publicity has hampered the SFH from
covering a larger number of persons at the grassroots who are desperately in
need of the services offered by this NGO. It was concluded that; SFH could do
more with regards to improved health standards of families in Chikun LGA if
supported by both government and other development partners. It was
recommended that; the government and other humanitarian organization
(NGOs) should work in conjunction with the SFH through adequate and sufficient
financial supports, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Society for
Family Health (SFH) should embark on adequate publicity and awareness
campaign on radio, television, religious houses, newspapers and through village
town criers on the availability of range of services offered by SFH and the need
for families to take advantage of these services so as to have a healthy and
prosperous Family life.