{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,28]],"date-time":"2026-10-28T14:31:05Z","timestamp":1793197865280,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1777852800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":33,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["bmjph"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,14]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Partner involvement plays a critical role in shaping women\u2019s contraceptive choices, yet evidence on its influence remains limited in Nigeria, where contraceptive prevalence is low. This study explored how partner support and communication affect women\u2019s family planning decisions.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study was conducted over 6\u2009weeks at the family planning clinic of a tertiary healthcare facility in southwest Nigeria, using in-depth interviews, with data analysed through inductive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke\u2019s six-step framework. Using purposive sampling, 20\u2009women aged 21\u201342 years were recruited for in-depth interviews. Trustworthiness was ensured through member checking, independent coding and peer debriefing.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Participants were mostly married (90%) and had secondary or tertiary education; they showed varied awareness of contraceptive methods, with knowledge gaps mainly around side effects. Partner influence ranged from encouragement and financial or emotional support to neutral acceptance, shaping women\u2019s autonomy and method choice. Frequent and open spousal communication facilitated shared decision-making, while cultural expectations for large families and health concerns acted as barriers. Healthcare providers were key sources of information; however, participants emphasised the need for greater male engagement in family planning education.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>These findings suggest that male partners play an important role in shaping contraceptive decision-making through attitudes, support and communication. Strengthening male engagement and couple-centred approaches may improve family planning uptake in similar settings.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjph-2025-004065","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T14:55:20Z","timestamp":1777906520000},"page":"e004065","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Partner support, communication and family planning choices among Nigerian women: a qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6876-3851","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Damilola Jeremiah","family":"Ayowole","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria"},{"name":"The Jerry & Praise Foundation International, Abeokuta, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-4460-3278","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ifeoluwa Ruth","family":"Atobatele","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-9122-9071","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tomilola Pelumi","family":"Akingbade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-0418-6322","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gbenga Joseph","family":"Alabi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-2350-2699","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Praise Toluwani","family":"Ayowole","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Jerry & Praise Foundation International, Abeokuta, Nigeria"},{"name":"Department of Nursing Services, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0702-238X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Omobola Yetunde","family":"Ojo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026070901202413000_4.2.e004065.1","unstructured":"Family planning\/contraception methods. 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