Family planning is an important component of reproductive health because it enables women and couples to determine the number and spacing of their children and to make informed decisions regarding contraceptive use. However, contraceptive behaviour is not static; women may adopt, continue, and switch, in response to changing reproductive intentions, counselling, side effects, partner support, method satisfaction, and service-related factors. This study assessed the knowledge, utilization trends, and dimensions of adaptive family planning behaviours among married women in Buguma City, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study assessed the level of knowledge of adaptive family planning methods, determined patterns of family planning utilization methods, and examined adaptive behaviours involving method adoption, continuation, and switching. A community-based descriptive cross-sectional study approach was employed among 398 married women using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages and weighted mean scores, with a five-point Likert scale used to assess adaptive family planning behaviours. A mean score of 3.00 was adopted as the decision criterion. The findings showed a generally high level of knowledge of family planning among respondents. Specifically, 330 (82.92%) had heard about family planning methods, 363 (91.21%) recognized that family planning helps to space births, 361 (90.70%) identified condoms as a family planning method, 209 (52.51%) identified injectables as modern methods, and 230 (57.79%) recognized implants as methods for preventing pregnancy. Regarding utilization, 361 (90.70%) reported having ever used a family planning method, whereas only 127 (31.91%) were currently using a method. Reported methods included implants (69.35%), natural methods (68.09%), condoms (82.16%), pills (55.03%), intrauterine devices (39.95%), and injectables (36.68%), among others. The findings therefore demonstrate a marked difference between ever use and current use, suggesting that family planning utilization involves considerable change over time. Adaptive behaviours were generally favourable. For method adoption, respondents reported adopting family planning after adequate counselling (Mean = 4.15), carefully choosing their current contraceptive method (Mean = 3.96), and receiving husband support for adoption (Mean = 4.17). For method continuation, respondents indicated intention to continue using their current method (Mean = 4.17), acknowledged the influence of consistent counselling on continuation (Mean = 4.18), and perceived the benefits of their current methods as outweighing side effects (Mean = 4.19). Method switching also recorded high mean scores, including changing from one method to another (Mean = 4.25), health-worker assistance in selecting another method (Mean = 4.33), and improved satisfaction following switching (Mean = 4.24). All the assessed items exceeded the 3.00 decision criterion. The study concludes that married women in Buguma City possess substantial knowledge of family planning and demonstrate high levels of adaptive behaviours; however, the lower level of current use compared with ever-use indicates that knowledge and initial adoption do not necessarily translate into sustained utilization. Family planning programmes should therefore move beyond promotion of uptake to emphasize informed choice, continuous counselling, male involvement, side-effect management, method availability, provider-assisted switching, and follow-up support. Strengthening client-centred and responsive family planning services is recommended to promote sustained and satisfactory contraceptive use among married women in Buguma City.

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