1 Non-Compliance to Child Spacing Information among Polygamous Married Females in Zaria City, Nigeria: Preliminary Findings of Narrative data Abdulkareem Abubakar, Abdullahi I. Musa, PhD, and Ezra S. Gbaje, PhD, Department of Library and Information Science Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria Musob2@yahoo.com , abubakarabdulkareem8@gmail.com Abstract Maternal morbidity and mortality is a major cause of concern in developing countries. To reduce maternal morbidity and mortality several public health agencies diffused information to the public. However, while most people accept and use child spacing information there remains some individuals that are resistant to it especially in developing countries. Resistance to information about child spacing is a major public health issue in developing countries, particularly in Nigeria. Using Chatman’s (2000) theory of normative behavior this research sought to find answers to the following question: what socio-cultural factors account for non- compliance to child spacing information among females in polygamous relationship in Zaria, Nigeria? How does Chatman’s (2000) theory of normative behavior explain resistance to child spacing information among females in polygamous relationship in Zaria, Nigeria? A qualitative research methodology was adopted. Data were collected using in-depth interview with fifteen females. Purposive sampling was used to identify respondents. To be included as respondent the following three criteria must be met: have to be female, in a polygamous married relationship, and must have a minimum of four children over the last six years. Preliminary data from respondents were analyzed using qualitative narrative analysis. Preliminary findings revealed the role of socio-cultural factors as a major cause for non-compliance to child spacing information among females in a married polygamous relationship. This study posit that for a sustained acceptance and use of child spacing information there is the critical need for policy makers and information professionals to design child spacing information services based on the social and cultural dynamics of the community. Keyword: Non-compliance to child spacing information, child spacing information behavior, Child spacing information avoidance, Health information behaviour, information resistance 1. Introduction Non-compliance to child spacing is a major public health problem in developing countries (Davanzo et, al. 2004; Bawah 2002). Non-compliance refers to the refusal to adopt and use information about birth spacing. Frequent birth, is associated with maternal complications: increased risk of post-partum hemorrhage, eclampsia, and hypertensive disorder (Orji, 2007; McGinn, 2010; William 2010; Mathe, 2011). To reduce maternal complications scholars have recommended strategies for a sustained acceptance of child spacing services (Bawah 2002; Feyisetan 2000; Oyediran and Schoemaker 2005). However, in spite of these recommendations maternal mortality remains a big problem in developing countries. To reduce maternal complications there is the critical need to design strategies for disseminating the benefits of child spacing services. However, little empirical research exists that discussed the problems of child spacing services from an epistemic perspective. Specifically, how information about child