Publication:

Socio-demographic correlates of unmet need for family planning among rural women of Haryana, India

Background The continuously growing population not only hampers the socio-economic development but the health of mothers and newborns. Progress made in improving social development in addition to strengthening the ongoing family planning programme will contribute towards the future pace of fertility and decline in unmet need. Objective of present study to assess the unmet need for family planning and role of socio-demographic factors among rural women.

Methods The present study was community based cross-sectional study conducted in rural area of Haryana from September 2015 to August 2016 among 500 currently married women (18-49 years).

Results The unmet need for family planning was 19.2% (4.8% spacing and 14.4% limiting).  Education, occupation and SES were significantly associated with unmet need for family planning. The commonest reason for not using contraception among those with unmet need was fear of side-effects (37.5%) followed by in-laws disapproval (21.9%).

Conclusions The unmet need for family planning was high. Women education and empowerment by protecting their health, wellbeing and rights, including their reproductive rights would prove to be beneficial.