The Family Planning landscape in Ekiti state paints a dingy outlook. According to the 2013 NDHS data, Ekiti State has a CPR currently estimated at 34.5 percent for all married women in the state. However, only 26.6 percent of contraceptive users are using a modern method while only 3.7% use long-acting methods. Married women using modern methods primarily rely on short-acting methods such as pills, condoms, and injectables. The median age at first birth in Ekiti State is 22.8, which is higher than the national median age of 20.2. The state has the second highest unmet for FP (19%) in the southwestern zone of Nigeria as 65.5% of the women of reproductive age are not using any contraceptive method and teenage pregnancy rate is 4.5%. Contraceptive use is low among adolescents and young adults, which has resulted in a high prevalence of undesired pregnancies, unsafe abortions and hence high abortion-related deaths,
indicating a need to ensure strong FP access for young, unmarried women.

Following the above poor indices, BALSDA with support from Population Action International developed a Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) for family planning for the State. The costed plan is expected to provide a genuine tool for evidence based advocacy and broad base resource mobilization to the government and all collaborating partners and agencies.

INTEGRATION OF POSTPARTUM FAMILY PLANNING INTO MNCH PROGRAMES IN 6 STATES

The poor reproductive health indices in Nigeria have posed major health and economic challenges to the nation. With an annual population growth of 3.2 percent, total fertility rate of 5.5 , unmet need for Family Planning at 16% and Modern Contraceptive Rate of 9.8%. With the current unmet needs for Family planning in Nigeria, it’s obvious that the postpartum women, including first time mothers, are not getting the family planning options they want. Scaling up access to postpartum family planning in Nigeria will not only increase the CPR but will also save the lives of women and unlock more of other development opportunities.

Following this, BALSDA got support from FP2020 to develop policies that would ensure integration of PPFP into other MNCH services that includes (Antenatal, Delivery, Immunization, Post Abortion Care e.t.c) This project IS expected to provide a unique opportunity to establish state advocacy core group comprising CSOs, media, traditional leaders and the stakeholders in the 6 states to advocate and ensure the state governments come up with a policy to integrate PPFP  services in ANC, delivery, and immunization ,post abortion care programs in the states by January 2019.The project will also partner with Federal Ministry of Health department of reproductive Health to provide technical assistance. The 6 project focal states are (Enugu, Kaduna, Gombe, Nasarawa, Cross-River and Oyo states).