Abstract: Family planning can reduce maternal mortality by meeting women’s need for modern contraceptives, this would prevent about one quarter to one-third of all maternal deaths. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude and determinants of unmet need for family planning among currently married women in child bearing age in Hargeisa, Maroodi Jeex region Somaliland, and reveal the reasons of not using contraceptives and the general knowledge, attitude and practice.
Methods: Community based cross-sectional study, involving 256 married women of reproductive age selected through a multi-stage random sampling technique, was conducted in Hargeisa town from October – November, 2016. Data were collected by using pretested structured interviewer administered questionnaire after written consent was obtained from respondents. Data were edited, coded, and entered to version 20.0 of SPSS software, and analysed by logistic regression model to identify determinants of unmet need for family planning.
Results: Following the analysis, total unmet need of family planning was significantly associated with number of children alive (OR=0.88; CI 95%= 0.77 – 0.99; P=0.04), Education (OR=4; CI 95%= 2 – 9; P=0.00), Husband approval (OR=5;CI 95%= 2 – 13; P=0.00), Religion (OR=0.26; CI 95%= 0.12 – 0.59; P=0.00) and cultural prohibition (OR= 4; CI 95%= 1 – 13; P=0.00), working status (OR=3; CI 95%= 1 – 6; P=0.00) and knowledge on family planning (OR=2.4; CI 95%= 1 – 5; P=0.02). But Age (P=0.58) and income (P=0.06) of the participants was not significantly associated with total unmet need of family planning. Reasons for not using modern contraceptive were Fear of infertility, desire to have more children and fear of side effects.
Conclusions: In general, the findings show that unmet need for family planning was significantly associated with women’s education, husband approval, religious and cultural prohibition, and knowledge on FP. This suggests to improve, and strengthen Family Planning programs to break the determining factors associated with unmet need for family planning.
Keywords: magnitude, determinants, unmet, family planning, women, reproductive age and Hargeisa.
Title: Assessment of the Magnitude and Determinants of Unmet Need for Family Planning Among Currently Married Women in Reproductive Age in Hargeisa, Somaliland
Author: Ahmed Yoonis
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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