Unmet need for Family Planning among Married Women in their Reproductive Age in ihe Sunyani West District of Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana

Abstract

Background: The rapid global population growth has made it imperative for the prescription of effective solution that would help reduce the geometric growth and prevent its attendant conflicts, overpopulation and poverty. One solution propounded by this study is meeting the unmet need of married women of reproductive age. The objective of this study was to explore the nature of unmet need and to identify the key factors that explain unmet need among women in their reproductive age in the Sunyani west district of Brong-Ahafo region. Methodology: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 300 married women in the Sunyani-West District. Participants were recruited using systematic stratified random selection method which involved filling out structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regressions on STATA version 13.0. Results The level of unmet need for family planning among married women in the Sunyani-West District was 32.3%. Married women in the age group of 15 - 24 are more likely to have unmet need than women above 35 years old, although the relationship was not significant. There is a high level of unmet need among married women with secondary education (44.4%) compared to those who have no education (20.0%). It is also informative that about one third (31.6 %) of respondents got their information from health workers while (25.6%) of respondents with an unmet need do not discuss Family Planning with their spouses. Educational status of a married woman was found to be a key determinant of unmet for family planning due to its level of significance in the study. Keywords: Unmet need, family planning, Determinants, characteristics of unmet need, Africa.