Musa Na Allahi, Sokoto
Access to child-spacing services in parts of Sokoto State has been severely hampered due to the persistent threat of banditry, forcing many families to abandon their homes and relocate to safer areas.
Child spacing services, also known as family planning services, can be grouped based on the method used to prevent pregnancy.
One category is hormonal methods, which use hormones to prevent ovulation. These include daily oral contraceptive pills, injectable contraceptives, and implants inserted under the skin for long-term protection.
Another type of child spacing is the barrier method, which physically prevent sperm from reaching the egg. These include male and female condoms and diaphragms, though the latter is less commonly used.
There are also Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), small devices placed inside the uterus that provide long-term pregnancy prevention. These can be either hormonal or non-hormonal (copper-based).
The natural methods of child spacing involve tracking the menstrual cycle to identify fertile days and avoiding unprotected sex during that time. This includes the calendar method, fertility awareness, and withdrawal.
Today, communities in the eastern region of the state have faced repeated attacks and harassment by armed bandits, prompting widespread displacement.
Many residents have fled to urban centers and internal displaced persons (IDP) camps in search of safety.
Hauwa Sani, who fled from Bargaja village to an IDP camp in Sokoto metropolis, recounted the disruption caused by the insecurity.
“Many women in our village used to receive child-spacing services. But now, most of them have fled due to fear of attacks,” she said.
“We are still struggling to rebuild our lives. We are traumatized, and there’s no peace of mind to even think about having more children or seeking family planning services.”
Despite ongoing awareness campaigns and radio jingles highlighting the benefits of child-spacing for maternal and child health, uptake remains low in some rural communities. This is partly due to cultural and religious resistance.
An Islamic scholar in Durbawa, who preferred to remain anonymous, told our correspondent that many religious leaders in the area remain unconvinced about the rationale behind family planning initiatives.
“It is only God who gives and takes life. No one else has the authority to determine birth,” he said.
He further expressed economic concerns. “We are peasant farmers. No one is feeding us. We need children to help us on the farm and support our livelihood.
“Maybe we’ll consider family planning later, but not now.”
The combined challenges of insecurity and socio-cultural resistance continue to hinder access to critical reproductive health services in Sokoto, placing women and children at greater risk.
