Changing Patterns of Unmet Needs for Family Planning Among Women of Reproductive Age in Nigeria

Unplanned pregnancy poses a major public health challenge to women of reproductive age in Nigeria and this has been hastened by poor use of modern family planning methods. This study employed secondary data analysis of the National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey conducted in 2007 and 2012 to explore the the pattern of unmet needs for family planning and associated factors over the five year period. The total unmet needs were 9.1% in 2007 and increased to 11.4% in 2012. Identified predictors were locality, fear of side effects and geopolitical zones in both the 2007 and 2012 surveys though with some variations. The level of family planning use among married couples is still very low in Nigeria and there was a rise in the unmet need for family planning among women of reproductive age group over the 5 year period. Regional specific interventions as well as provider-client discussions about family planning can be key to sustained use of modern contraceptives in Nigerian women.