Determinants of unmet need for contraception in Zambia
Abstract
This study attempts to identify some of the socio-economic, socio-cutural
and demographic factors influencing unmet need for contraception based on data
drawn from the Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) conducted in
1996.
The objective of the study stemmed from the fact that determinants of
unmet need for contraception in Zambia have not been identified and are hence,
poorly understood. Therefore, the specific objectives of the study were to estimate
the magnitude of unmet need by selected background characteristics of the women
and to identify factors that have significant effects on unmet need for
contraception.
The study adopted the definition of unmet need used in the ZDHS of 1996
which captures the currently married women only. According to this survey, 27
per cent of currently married women are classified-as having unmet need for
contraception - 19 per cent for spacing their next birth and 8 per cent for limiting
births.
The study made use of simple percentages to show the distribution of the
respondents by the selected background variables and cross tabulations to show
the association between the dependent variable (unmet need) and selected
independent variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors
that have significant effects on unmet need for contraception in Zambia.
The results of the analysis showed that significant differentials in unmet
need for contraception among currently married Zambian women exists. Unmet
need for contraception varies according to the socio-economic, socio-cultural and
demographic background characteristics of the women. Factors affecting unmet
need for contraception were found to be age of the respondent, region of residence, religion, number of living children, spousal communication, type of place of
residence, and respondent's approval of family planning.
The study recommends that efforts to eliminate unmet need for
contraception should give priority to women who have been identified to have a
higher likelihood of experiencing unmet need. For example, older women, those
with more than 7 living children, those who reside in urban areas, those who
belong to Muslim and "Other" religious group and those who reside in Southern,
Eastern, and Luapula provinces.
This entails increasing the number of health facilities providing family
planning, and that existing ones to function better and to be more sensitive to
women's culture and socio-economic circumstances. There is also need to increase
the number of health personnel. Furthermore, there is need to increase the
availability and accessibility of temporary contraceptive methods in the country,
particularly in rural areas. Adequate Information, Education and Communication
(IEC) activities should support community-based programmes in educating
individuals and couples about the various family planning methods available for
spacing and limiting. Family planning programmes should also continue to
encourage dialogue between spouses. The study recommends that more work
should be undertaken to improve the measurement of unmet need with a view to
including all women regardless of their marital status and restricting to women
who are currently exposed to the risk of pregnancy.
Sponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Department of Population Studies & Research Institute, University of Nairobi
Subject
ContraceptionZambia
Zambia Demographic & Health Survey (ZDHS)
Socio-cutural & demographic factors