A comparative study to assess the unmet need for family planning and its determinants among married women in rural and urban community

Background: Unconstrained population growth is mainly due to the unmet need for family planning. The major tools for improving the health of the population are increasing awareness on the use of contraceptives and implementation of effective family planning services Aim and Objectives: To Compare and identify the determinants of unmet need for family planning among married women in rural and urban community Methods: 1200 married women in the age group of 15-49 years were selected from the all seven talukas of Gulbarga from which 600 study participants who were selected randomly from wards in urban areas and 600 study participants from the villages in rural areas by using multistage sampling techniques. Collected data was tabulated and analyzed by using SPSS software Results: The prevalence of unmet need for family planning of married women is statistically associated with area of residence (Chi-square=4.1100 p<0.05) at 5% level of significance. There is significant association between need for family planning of married women with age groups, religion, Educational qualification, number of living children, income group, status of still birth, knowledge about family planning method and ideal age for marriage are found to be statistically significant Conclusion: The unmet need for family planning is maximum in rural and urban married women among illiterates (54.27%) and (53.33%), minimum in graduates and higher degree. Women literacy rate contributes significantly in decreasing the unmet need. Unmet need for family planning is maximum in rural and urban married women among Muslim religion (45.74%) and (41.46%), minimum in other religions. We also found that age, the number of children, ideal age for marriage and being highly supportive of family planning were found to be important indicators of current contraceptive.