Determinants of unmet need for family planning among married women in Zambia

Authors

  • James N. Mulenga Department of Economics, School of Social Science, Mulungushi University
  • Bupe B. Bwalya Department of Mathematics and Statistics, School of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Mulungushi University
  • Mulenga C. Mulenga Department of Economics, School of Social Science, Mulungushi University
  • Kakoma Mumba Graduate of Bachelor of Economics, Department of Economics, School of Social Science, Mulungushi University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2020.1084

Keywords:

Unmet need, limiting, spacing, family planning, Women, Zambia

Abstract

Unmet need for family planning remains a major family planning problem in most countries around the world. It presents serious consequences for the women, their families and society at large. This study was undertaken to establish the factors that affect total unmet needs for family planning and its components in Zambia. This study used the 2013/14 Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) dataset focusing on currently married women aged 15 to 49. Data analysis took the form of descriptive, binary logistic and multinomial logistic regressions. The study shows that, although there has been a substantial increase in the use of contraceptives, combined unmet need for family planning has only decreased slightly over time, and currently stand at 21%, made up of 14% limiters and 7% spacers. Various factors were identified as determinants of unmet need for spacing, limiting or total unmet need for family planning. These included age, partner’s level of education, contraceptive side effects, husband opposition to contraceptives and number of living children. To enhance utilization, policy should not be blind to the respective factors that influence combined unmet needs for spacing and limiting.

Download data is not yet available.

References

Chanda MM, Ortblad KF, Mwalea M, et al. Contraceptive use and unplanned pregnancy among female sex workers in Zambia. Contraception 2017;96:196–202. DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2017.07.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.07.003

Cleland J, Conde-Agudelo A, Peterson H, et al. Contraception and health. Lancet 2012; 380: 149–56. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60609-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60609-6

Prusty RK. Use of contraceptives and unmet need for family planning among tribal women in india and selected hilly states. J Health Popul Nutr. 2014;32:342–55.

Central Statistical Office (CSO) [Zambia], Ministry of Health (MOH) [Zambia], and ICF International. Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2013-14. Rockville, Maryland, USA; 2014.

United Nations. World Family Planning 2017 – Highlights. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division; 2017. (ST/ESA/SER.A/414).

World Health Organisation. Family planning/Contraception. Fact sheet N°351. Available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs351/en/ Accessed on 26/12/2017.

Guttmacher Institute. Adding It Up: Investing in Contraception and Maternal and Newborn Health, New York; 2017. https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/adding-it-up-contraception-mnh-2017

United Nations. Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division; 2015 (ST/ESA/SER.A/349).

Cleland J, Harbison S, Shah IH. Unmet need for contraception: Issues and challenges. Stud Fam Plann 2014;45:105-122. DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2014.00380.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4465.2014.00380.x

Wang W, Sarah S, Rebecca W, Courtney A. Women’s Marital Status, Contraceptive Use, and Unmet Need in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. DHS Comparative Reports No. 44. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF; 2017.

Government of the Republic of Zambia. Family Planning Services: Integrated Family Planning Scale-up Plan 2013-2020. The Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (MCDMCH). GRZ. Zambia.

Central Statistical Office [CSO-Zambia], Central Board of Health [Zambia], and ORC Macro. Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2001-2002. Calverton, Maryland, USA; 2003.

Fagbamigbe AF, AfolabiRF, Idemudia ES. Demand and Unmet Needs of Contraception Among Sexually Active In-Union Women in Nigeria: Distribution, Associated Characteristics, Barriers, and Program Implications. SAGE Open 2018;8. DOI: 10.1177/2158244017754023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017754023

Khalil SN, Al-zahrani MM, Siddiqui AF. Unmet need and demand for family planning among married women of Abha, Aseer Region in Saudi Arabia. Middle East Fertil Soc J 2017;23:31–36. DOI: 10.1016/j.mefs.2017.07.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mefs.2017.07.004

Gebre G, Birhan N, Gebreslasie K. Prevalence and factors associated with unmet need for family planning among the currently married reproductive age women in Shire-Enda- Slassie, northern west of Tigray, Ethiopia 2015: a community based cross-sectional study. Pan Afr Med J. 2016;23:195. DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2016.23.195.8386 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2016.23.195.8386

Wulifan JK, Jahn A, Hien H, et al. Determinants of unmet need for family planning in rural Burkina Faso: a multilevel logistic regression analysis, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2017; 17:426 DOI 10.1186/s12884-017-1614-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1614-z

Nyauchi B, Omedi G. Determinants of Unmet Need for Family Planning among Women in Rural Kenya. Afr Popul Stud. 2014;28: 999–1008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11564/28-0-552

Westoff CF. Unmet Need for Modern Contraceptive Methods. DHS Analytical Studies No. 28. Calverton, Maryland, USA: ICF International; 2012.

Ajong AB, Njotang PN, Yakum MN, et al. Determinants of Unmet Need for Family Planning among Women in Urban Cameroon: A Cross Sectional Survey in the Biyem-Assi Health District, Yaounde. BMC Womens Health. 2016;16:4. DOI 10.1186/s12905-016-0283-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-016-0283-9

Muhoza DN, Rutayisire PC, Umubyeyi, A. Measuring the Success of Family Planning Initiatives in Rwanda: A Multivariate Decomposition Analysis. DHS Working Papers. Calverton, MD: ICF International; 2013.

Imasiku E, Odimegwu C, Adedini S, Ononokpono D. Variations in unmet need for contraception in Zambia. Does ethnicity play a role? J Biosoc Sci 2014; 46:294–315.

Bradley SEK, Trevor NC, Fishel JD, Westoff CF. Revising Unmet Need for Family Planning. DHS Analytical Studies No. 25. Calverton, Maryland, USA: ICF International; 2012.

Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, ICF International. Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2015: Final Report. Rockville, Maryland, USA; 2016.

National Statistical Office [Malawi], ICF International. Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16. Zomba, Malawi, and Rockville, Maryland, USA. NSO and ICF; 2017.

Adebowale SA, Palamuleni ME. Determinants of Unmet Need for Modern Contraception and Reasons for Non-use among Married Women in Rural Areas of Burkina Faso. Afr Popul Stud. 2014;28:499–514. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11564/28-1-503

Genet E, Abeje G, Ejigu T. Determinants of unmet need for family planning among currently married women in Dangila town administration, Awi Zone, Amhara regional state; a cross-sectional study. Reprod Health. 2015;12:42. DOI 10.1186/s12978-015-0038-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-015-0038-3

Ndaruhuye MD, Broekhuis A, Hooimeijer P. Demand and Unmet Need for Means of Family Limitation in Rwanda International Perspectives on Sexual and ReproductiveHealth,2009,35:122–130 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1363/3512209

Korra A. Attitudes toward Family Planning, and Reasons for Nonuse among Women with Unmet Need for Family Planning in Ethiopia. Calverton, Maryland USA: ORC Macro; 2012.

Ayele W, Tesfaye H, Gebreyes R, Gebreselassie T. Trends and Determinants of Unmet Need for Family Planning and Programme Options, Ethiopia: Further Analysis of the 2000, 2005, and 2011 Demographic and Health Surveys. DHS Further Analysis Reports No. 81. Calverton, Maryland, USA: ICF International; 2013.

Mekonnen W, Worku A. 2011. Determinants of low family planning use and high unmet need in Butajira District, South Central Ethiopia. Reprod Heal. 2011; 8:37-10. doi:10.1186/1742-4755-8-37 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4755-8-37

Downloads

Published

29-04-2020

How to Cite

Mulenga, J. N., Bwalya, B. B., Mulenga, M. C., & Mumba, K. (2020). Determinants of unmet need for family planning among married women in Zambia. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2020.1084

Issue

Section

Original Articles