Factors associated with unmet need for family planning among women in Northern Uganda.

Abstract

This study aimed at identifying the factors associated with unmet need of family planning among women in Northern Uganda. The study examined the association between socio-economic and demographic factors with unmet need for family planning. Many hypotheses were set in order to make conclusions. Data obtained was filtered and sorted accordingly. It was then analyzed at three levels. Univariate for percentage distribution of study variables, bivariate for showing the association between unmet need for family planning and the selected variables. And multivariate for identification of determinants of unmet need for family planning among women. Results showed that majority that majority (86.2%) of the respondents had unmet need for family planning, more than a quarter of respondents were in the age group of 15-19 years (26.1%), almost a half of the respondents were very poor (49.2%), more than a half (61.3) of the respondents were Catholics. There was almost an equal percentage of respondents who were married (30%) and those living with partner (29.3%), majority (82.9%) of the respondents resided in rural areas, almost three quarters (68.9%) of the respondents acquired primary education, more than three quarters (82.3%) of the respondents were currently working, more than a half of the respondents (51.1%) had ever given birth to less than 5 children and more than a half (58.8%) of the respondents were not sure whether their partners consumes alcohol followed Bivariate analysis indicated that age, current marital status, employment status, number of living children and partner consumes alcohol were statistically associated with unmet need for family planning since p-value was less than 0.05. Family planning need to be made accessible by women in relationship. There is a need to educate young women about the importance of family planning usage. The government of Uganda should re-strengthen contraceptive subsidization or even give them out freely at the government health centers. There is need to put policies on alcohol consumption among men as the unmet need for family planning was highest among women whose husband consumes alcohol.