Correlates of unmet need for family planning among married women in South Africa

Paris Vusimuzi Maduna, Department of Social Development, South Africa
Martin Enoch Palamuleni, North-West University, South Africa

Correlates of Unmet Need for Family Planning among Married Women in South Africa Abstract Background: 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 in South Africa. Methodology: This study utilizes data from the 1998 and 2003 SADHS. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the factors affecting unmet need. The analysis was limited to currently married women. Results: 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 births was 4.7% and 4.8% in 1998 and 2003, while unmet need to limit further childbearing declined from 10.3% and 9.0% in 1998 and 2003. Knowledge contribution: The findings have some important policy implications.