Association between socioeconomic factors and unmet need for modern contraception among the young married women

A comparative study across the low- and lower-middle-income countries of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID19593698
AuthorsAsibul Islam Anik (0000-0002-6885-2256, University of Rajshahi, corresponding author), Md Rashedul Islam (0000-0003-3568-0870, Hitotsubashi University), Shafiur Rahman (0000-0003-1911-6807, Kanazawa University), Md Shafiur Rahman
EditorsJulia Robinson (0000-0003-0719-3995)
Year2022
Volume2
Issue7
Pagese0000731
Publication date2022-07-27
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0000731
PMID36962420
OpenAlexW4288052174
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited14

Modern contraceptive methods are effective tools for controlling fertility and reducing unwanted pregnancies. Yet, the unmet need for modern contraception (UNMC) remains high in most of the developing countries of the world. This study aimed to compare the coverage of modern contraceptive usage and the UNMC among the young married women of low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, and further examined the likelihood of UNMC across these regions. This cross-sectional study used Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data on family planning from 32 LMICs of South Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA), West-Central Africa (WCA), and Eastern-Southern Africa (ESA). Multilevel logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between UNMC and women’s socioeconomic status. Out of 1,00,666 younger married women (15–24 years old), approximately 37% used modern contraceptives, and 24% experienced UNMC. Regionally, women from SA reported higher modern contraceptive usage (44.7%) and higher UNMC (24.6%). Socioeconomic factors like- higher education (in SA and WCA), unemployment (in SA and ESA), no media exposure (in SA and ESA), and higher decision-making autonomy (except SEA) showed positive and significant association with UNMC. Poorest households were positively associated with UNMC in SA and ESA, while negatively associated with UNMC in SEA. UNMC was highly reported among the SA young married women, followed by WCA, SEA, and ESA regions. Based on this study findings, versatile policies, couples counseling campaigns, and community-based outreach initiatives might be undertaken to minimize UNMC among young married women in LMICs

Developing country · Economic growth · Environmental health · Family planning · Fertility · Geography · Outreach · Political science · Population · Research methodology · Socioeconomic status · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare

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