Unmet need for contraception among men in Zambia: Implications for Family Planning Programmes

Despite the concept of unmet need for contraception undergoing some considerable revision and refinement, research has continued emphasizing on women largely ignoring men. However, it is unacceptable to ignore men’s unmet need considering that reducing it translates into lowering fertility. Including men in family planning programmes and research cannot be overlooked if challenges related to reproductive health, unmet need inclusive, are to be effectively addressed. Using 2007 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey, we estimated the level of unmet need for currently married men and examined its determinants. Results indicate that unmet need for spacing, limiting and total was 28.0%, 19.5% and 47.5%, respectively. Men’s educational attainment and exposure to family planning messages in media were the most important determinants of unmet need for spacing, whereas number of living children and region of residence were the most important determinants of unmet need for limiting. Other factors associated with unmet need were age (35-49 and 50-59) and wealth (rich). Married men in Zambia have a high level of unmet need. Family planning services are not meeting men’s demand for family planning. Concerted efforts should be made for family planning programmes to specifically target men as contraceptive users.