High fertility and lack of proper family planning had resulted in large population growth rate in the country. One of the most effective ways to address population growth and achieve larger sustainable development goals is to increase access to sustainable free voluntary family planning services (Disu, 2012). This study therefore seeks to assess utilization of family planning services among women of child bearing age in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State-Nigeria. To achieve this purpose of the study, three research questions were raised to guide the study. Retrospective study design was used. Records of 398 women who were attending family planning clinics in selected four primary health facilities from 2011 to 2013 were used, and structured checklist was developed. Data collected were analysed using tables and simple percentage. The results of the study showed that about 145 (36.4%) number of women utilized family planning in 2013. Oral method of contraceptive was mostly used by the women, indicating 46 (35%), and that family planning is mostly used by women with about 3-4 children which accounted for 122 (31%) of the women. The result also showed that a large proportion of the women were influenced by friends to utilize family planning services which amounted to about 185 (46%). Non-acceptance of family planning by husbands showing 294 (73.9%) was the main factor hindering utilization. It was recommended that mass mobilization and creation of awareness should be carried out to sensitise the people on public acceptance of family planning to break taboos, myths and misconceptions about family planning services especially by husbands to control rapid population growth in the study area.
Keywords: Child Bearing, Family Planning, Utilization, services
