THEORY OF INFORMATION BEHAVIOR AS A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING NON-COMPLIANCE WITH CHILD SPACING: A FRESH PERSPECTIVE FOR DESIGNING CHILD SPACING INFORMATION SERVICES AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS

This study set out to explore the socio-cultural reasons for non-compliance with child spacing information. Using Chatman's (2000) theory of normative behavior as a theoretical framework to guide the investigation. The study adopted interpretative research paradigm and also qualitative research method guided data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, and discussion of findings. Twenty-five child-bearing women were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. The study adopted analytic inductive process to identify 235 narratives explaining socio-cultural reasons for non compliance with child spacing information. The narratives are organized into 13 recurring topics and further collapsed into four emergent categories to explain the socio-cultural reasons for non-compliance with child spacing information. Findings indicated that availability of child spacing information, Beliefs and practice related to child spacing information, spouse resistance to child spacing information, fear and misinformation related to child spacing information, suspicion of western people, distrust in mass media and health care providers is the major findings of this study. However findings interpreted using Chatman's (2000) theory of normative behavior suggest that for there to be a sustained acceptance and use of child spacing methods, there is critical need for child spacing information program, to design child spacing information services based on the social and cultural dynamics of the child-bearing women who are resistance to child spacing information and services. Future research areas for sustained acceptance of the child spacing information services are identified.