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Rabiya Masood¹, Ayesha Saddique² and Rabia Javed¹

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine frequency of unmet needs of family planning and associated factors in married women of reproductive age of Multan.

Study Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Community Medicine Department, Nishtar Medical University, Multan, from September, 2021 to March, 2022.

Materials and Methods: A total of 350 women after taking consent were enrolled. Different areas of city were visited in this regard. By simple random sampling method 70 households were selected in this descriptive cross – sectional study from Average households is 1985, using lottery method. First respondent from each household fulfilling study criteria was selected to be included. Once registered these participants (n=350) were interviewed by researcher itself for their frequency of unmet need for family planning and associated factors.

Results: This study included of a total of 350 women having mean age of these women was 28.36 ± 6.58 years (rang; 19 years to 44 years). Out of these 350 women, 104 (29.7 %) belonged to poor social class and 246 (70.3 %) belonged to middle social class. Out of these 104 women, 104 (29.7%) were illiterate and 246 (70.3%) were literate while 65 (18.6%) husbands were illiterate. Of these 350 women, 117 (33.4%) were living in nuclear family system while 233 (66.6%) in joint family system. Frequency of unmet need for family planning in the women was noted to be 136 (38.9%). Associated factors for unmet need for family planning were; Fear of side effects in 62 (45.6%), Objection by husband in 40 (29.4%), objection by family in 18 (13.2%) and son preference was 16 (11.8%).

Conclusion: High frequency of unmet need for family planning was noted in our study among women of reproductive age group of Multan. Fear of side effects was the major associated factor followed by objection by husband, objection by family and son preference, respectively. Unmet need for family planning was significantly associated with poor socioeconomic status, husband illiteracy, joint family system and ethnicity. Mass level awareness among targeted population is need of the hour.

Key Words: Family Planning, Unmet Need, Reproductive age

Citation of article: Masood R, Saddique A, Javed R. Unmet Needs of Family Planning and Associated Factors in Married Women of Reproductive Age. Med Forum 2023;34(2):54-57.