The Effect of Women’s Empowerment on Unmet Needs for Family Planning in Tanzania

Analysis of 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS)

Bibliographic Data

ID15375437
AuthorsMunawar Harun Koray (0000-0003-2764-4829, Ghana Health Service, corresponding author), Sara Sulieman (University of Khartoum), F Saïd (Zanzibar University), Fatma Ahmed Said, Sudue Epaphraditus Mieh (William V. S. Tubman University), Tanya Curry (National Public Health Institute of Liberia), Mary Modupe Abiona (Southern Medical University), Mansour Maulid Mshenga (Zanzibar University), Gifty Marley (0000-0002-0025-3062, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems)
Year2025
Volume25
Issue1
Pages2863-2863
Publication date2025-08-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMC Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1471-2458 • E-ISSN: 1471-2458
PublisherBioMed Central (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1186/s12889-025-23945-0
PMID40835918
OpenAlexW4413366867
LanguageEN
References cited25

The role of women’s empowerment in reducing unmet needs for family planning (FP) has received limited attention, particularly in Tanzania. While empowerment may be key to addressing disparities in FP use, its impact on unmet FP needs remains underexplored. This study assessed the impact of women’s empowerment on unmet FP needs, using the Survey-based Women’s Empowerment (SWPER) Global Index as a measure of empowerment. This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS). The sample consisted of 9,000 women aged 15–49 years. Descriptive statistics summarized socio-demographic characteristics and unmet FP needs. Pearson’s chi-square test assessed associations between socio-demographic variables, empowerment domains, and unmet FP needs. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analyzed the relationship between women’s empowerment and unmet FP needs, controlling for individual and community-level factors. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval, using STATA version 18 for analysis. The study found that 20.9% of women had unmet FP needs. Multilevel logistic regression revealed significant associations between women’s empowerment and unmet FP needs. High empowerment in social independence increased the likelihood of unmet FP needs by 41.9% (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.17–1.71), while high empowerment in decision-making reduced the odds by 17.6% (aOR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.70–0.96). Increasing age and prior contraceptive use decreased unmet FP needs, with women aged 45–49 being 88.8% less likely to report unmet needs (aOR = 0.112, 95% CI: 0.08–0.16). Community-level education and FP knowledge were associated with lower unmet needs (aOR = 0.799, 95% CI: 0.71–0.91; aOR = 0.385, 95% CI: 0.35–0.43). Female-headed households had higher odds of unmet needs (aOR = 1.186, 95% CI: 1.02 − 1.38). These findings emphasize the need for integrated approaches to address unmet FP needs. Policies should focus on enhancing women’s empowerment through education, improving access to reproductive health services, and addressing socio-economic disparities. Policy makers can leverage on community-level interventions to promote FP uptake and reproductive health outcomes

Biostatistics · Economic growth · Empowerment · Environmental health · Public health · Socioeconomics · Tanzania · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Global Maternal and Child Health · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Medicine · Nursing · Epidemiology