Determinantes de la necesidad insatisfecha de planificación familiar entre mujeres en edad de fertilidad (15-49 años) en el distrito de West Mamprusi, norte de Ghana

Abstract

Background: An estimated 214 million women in developing countries have unmet need for family planning. In Ghana about a third of married women have unmet need for contraception. The West Mamprusi District is a rural district in the Northern-East region of Ghana with a total fertility rate of 3.8 children per woman aged 15-49, which is higher than the national average. An earlier study among reproductive-age women in the study area suggested that there is an association between parity, household size and unmet need for family planning. This study, thus, further explored the determinants of unmet need for family planning among women in fertility age in the West Mamprusi District.

Methods: This cross-sectional quantitative study used multistage sampling technique to select the participants. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 360 women between the ages of 15-49 years from 20 communities and SPSS version 22 used for data analysis.

Results: This study found that the total unmet need for family planning was 63.6%. The study discovered that urban residence, basic education and parity were associated with lower odds of unmet need for FP among reproductive-age in the West Mamprusi District. Additionally, those who had 1-3 children, perceived family planning was expensive or ever paid for family planning, lived in household size of less than five members and women who acquired their FP information from radio/TV, health workers or community health volunteers were associated with lower odds of unmet need for family planning. On the other hand, women who reported lack of autonomy and those who perceived religious disapproval of family planning were more likely to have unmet need for family planning compared to those who had autonomy and those who perceived religious approval respectively. However, this study found no statistically significant relationship between education beyond basic level or household size of 5-7 and unmet need for family planning among women in fertility age in the West Mamprusi District.

Conclusions and recommendation.

The study concludes that the unmet need for family planning among reproductive-age women in the West Mamprusi District was higher than the national average, which is partly attributable to the inclusion of unmarried and sexual minority women in this study, and the rural and deprived nature of the district. The study recommends that the Ghana Health Service advocate for the addition of family planning to the national health insurance package; partner with the civil society groups to sensitise religious bodies on family planning and advocate for women’s autonomy in their contraceptive choices; and use radio/TV, health workers and community health workers to educate women on family planning.