Struggling For Space And Choice: The Silent Crisis Of Family Planning Among Maiduguri’s IDP -By Adama Isa

MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA — Inside a sprawling Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp on the outskirts of Maiduguri, 26-year-old Aisha cradles her eight-month-old baby. Already a mother of six, she lives with her family in a cramped shelter made of tarpaulin, bamboo and scraps of cloth. The small space serves as a bedroom, kitchen and living area.

“We survived the insurgents, but now we are fighting a different kind of war,” Aisha says. “A war against hunger, overcrowding and exhaustion. Every new pregnancy makes life harder, but it often feels like there is no alternative.”

Aisha’s story reflects the reality faced by thousands of displaced women across Borno State, where a silent crisis is unfolding at the intersection of displacement, poverty and limited access to family planning services.

For more than a decade, the Boko Haram insurgency has displaced millions of people across northeastern Nigeria, forcing many into camps and host communities around Maiduguri. While humanitarian efforts have focused on food, shelter and security, reproductive healthcare has often received less attention.

The consequences are evident. Overcrowded camps continue to experience high birth rates despite limited resources. More children mean greater pressure on food supplies, healthcare services and sanitation facilities.

“Managing a large family is difficult under normal circumstances,” says Dr. Ibrahim Musa, a public health expert in Maiduguri. “In displacement settings, where access to nutrition, clean water and healthcare is already limited, frequent pregnancies increase the risks of maternal and infant mortality.”

Access to family planning is hindered by multiple challenges. Deep-rooted cultural beliefs, religious misconceptions and widespread misinformation discourage many women from seeking contraceptive services.

“Some women fear that contraceptives can cause infertility or serious illnesses,” explains community health worker Fatima Umar. “Much of our work involves correcting these misconceptions before discussing the benefits of child spacing.”

Even when women choose to use family planning methods, access remains difficult. Clinics frequently experience shortages of contraceptive supplies, while trained personnel capable of administering long-acting methods such as implants and intrauterine devices are often unavailable. For many displaced families, travelling to hospitals outside the camps is simply unaffordable.

Gender dynamics further complicate the situation. In many households, women require their husband’s approval before using contraceptives. Healthcare workers report that some women secretly use family planning methods, fearing opposition or conflict at home if discovered.

Experts argue that addressing the crisis requires more than emergency aid. Reproductive healthcare must be fully integrated into primary healthcare services within displacement camps. Community awareness campaigns should engage men, religious leaders and traditional authorities to promote child spacing as a health and economic necessity. Peer education programmes led by displaced women can also help dispel myths and build trust within communities.

As displacement in Borno State becomes increasingly prolonged, the need for sustainable solutions grows more urgent. For women like Aisha, family planning is not merely a health issue—it is a matter of survival, dignity and hope for a better future.

Giving displaced women the power to make informed reproductive choices is a critical step toward restoring control over their lives and securing a more stable future for their families.