ABSTRACT
Background: Unmet needs for family planning is an important method to evaluate family planning programs hence this study was conducted to assess the unmet needs of contraception and its associated factors and reasons. Objectives: 1) to determine the unmet needs, its determinants and reasons among fecund and sexually active married women 2) to identify association between variables and unmet needs among fecund and sexually active married women. Materials & Methods: It was a community based cross sectional study, conducted in the catchment area of Institute of Public Health Lahore. Sample size was 200 women of Child Bearing Age (CBA) who were fecund and sexually active, with no history of hysterectomy, and living with their husbands. Simple random sampling technique was applied to recruit the sample population. Data was collected upon a structured questionnaire. Dependent variable was unmet needs; and independent variables included socio demographic variables and factors related to reproductive health. Data entered and analyzed upon SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics calculated; Bivariate analysis was applied to identify association of variables with met and unmet needs. Results: About 19.38% women had unmet needs for family planning; 8.59% for limiting and 10.79% for spacing. Family Planning knowledge, discussion about family planning between spouses and Husband’s sole role as a decision maker were significantly associated with unmet needs. Reasons for unmet needs were fear of side effects 29.5%, experience of side effects 21.6% mainly menstrual cycle disturbance and weight gain, Lack of information 13.6%, disapproval from their husbands 20.5% and by their Mother in Laws 9.1%. Conclusion: Our study indicated unmet needs for contraception comparable to latest report by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics 2015-2016 (35.5%) but still there is a scope to improve health education system, plan a structured counselling for Family Planning, reduce the impact of obstacles and address current issues to meet contraception needs.