Correlates of Unmet Need for Family Planning among Married Women in South Africa

Paris Vusimuzi Maduna, Department of Social Development, South Africa

Unmet Need for family planning is investigated because of its direct impact on women’s total fertility, contribution to maternal mortality as a result of illegal and unsafe termination of pregnancy and for its use for evaluation of family planning programmes. This study utilizes data from 1998 and 2003 SADHS, analysis for currently married women. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine factors affecting unmet need. The results revealed that total levels of unmet need for family planning declined from 15.0% in 1998 to 13.7% in 2003. Unmet need to space was 4.7% and 4.8% in 1998 and 2003, while unmet need to limit declined from 10.3% and 9.0% in 1998 and 2003. The findings have important policy implications. It is recommended that raising the status of women through education, skills development, increasing participation of men in sexual and reproductive health is important in eradicating barriers to use of contraceptives.