Unmet needs for family planning in Sunsari, eastern Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: The unmet need for family planning is a very useful tool in measuring and predicting the contraceptive needs of a population. Seventeen percent of all married women would prefer to avoid pregnancy but are not using any form of family planning. In less developed countries, about one forth of pregnancies is unintended. Objective: To determine the level of unmet need for family planning and evaluate the factors that influences the unmet needs in Married Women of Reproductive Age (MRWA). Methods: A cross-sectional study of 410 women attending the immunization clinic of B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, a teaching hospital in Dharan was carried out over 3 months. Results: MRWA had 22%, 15% and 8% unmet needs for family planning, spacing and limiting births respectively. Health concerns and side effects (30.5%), husband and family opposition (14%), uncertainty about child bearing (12.2%) and inconvenience (10%) were among the major constraints to the use of contraception. Unmet need has significant association between parity & education. Age and family type had no significant effect on unmet needs. Conclusion: In spite of high level of awareness about family planning method, a significant level of unmet need exists among women of reproductive age.

Currently Married Women with an Unmet Need for Contraception in Minia Governorate, Egypt: Profile and Determinants

“…Although unmet need decreased with the years of life below the age of 35 years, it increased with age 35 years or more. This was in line with results done in Nepal and Zambia [15] [16].…”

A Descriptive Study On Contraceptive Practices Among Mothers In Belhara Vdc Of Dhankuta District, Nepal

“…This predominance of husband's desire and influence over their wives uptake of family planning method was also found in other studies done by Family Health International and Poudel IS. 13,14 Vasectomy wasn't reported in our study which showed low male participation and was a normal social attribute in south asian region. 13 …”

Revealing unmet need for contraception among married women in an urban slum of Nagpur

“…The thought process toward reproduction is similar between the contraceptive users and those who do not follow it owing to some or many combined reasons, which hinder reaching and serving these women by the family planning program. [6] In 2006, unmet need for family planning was added to the fifth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) as an indicator for tracking development on the betterment of maternal health. Hence, the eradication of unmet need could prominently decline fertility and improve maternal and child health.…”