Study of unmet need of family planning and response to health education among women at reproductive age

Abstract EN

Background: In Egypt, there is 1.88 millions women with unmet need of family planning according to the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) between 1993 and 1996 (John and William, 2001).

Women with this unmet need are at increased risk of unwanted pregnancies and births.

Objectives: To measure the extent and explore the reasons of unmet need of family planning among Egyptian women at reproductive age, To find out the relationship between the sociodemographic variables and the prevalence and reasons of unmet need of family planning among these women, and to test the response to health education among women of unmet need.

Setting the out patient clinic of Obstetric & Gynecology department (El Hussein University Hospital).

Study Design: Cross-Sectional study.

Subject and Methods: 2160 women at reproductive age were interviewed in the clinic during the period of two years.

Women who fulfilled the criteria of unmet need of family planning were questioned about their reasons of unmet need.

The sociodemographic variables of each woman wTere studied and recorded.

Women with unmet need of family planning and their husbands were then offered proper health education (either single or in groups) and the women's immediate response was observed and recorded.

Statistical Analysis: Chi-square and Phi-coefficient tests were used.

Results: The extent of unmet need of family planning was (21.3%) among women at reproductive age.

The main reasons for this unmet need were health concern about side-effects of contraception (26.5%) followed by husband's opposition (23.5%) and uncertainty about child-bearing (20.9%).

The problem was most evident among illiterate, unemployed, < 20 years old , with lesser number of children and with a period of birth spacing less than two years.

The immediate positive response to health education was (56.3%).

The positive response was significantly higher among women who are worried about side effects of contraception.