Correlates of unmet need for contraception in Zambia: A look at community-level determinants

About 200 million women of reproductive age in developing countries have unmet need for contraception (unmet need). Family planning is key in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It can among other things, curb the AIDS pandemic and reduce infant mortality. Zambia’s unmet level of 27% is higher than the average for sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding correlates of unmet need is crucial to reducing the risk of having unmet need. Previous studies have largely ignored community factors and yet these are more effective policy informing instruments. The study used the 2007 Zambia Demographic Health Survey to examine the role of community- level determinants in explaining differentials in unmet need among currently married women. In view of the nested nature of the data, the study employed the multilevel analytic technique. About 38% of the women belonged to the Bemba/Mambwe ethnic group. The percentage of those with secondary or higher education was 26.9%. Unmet need was highest among women with primary education (66.5%). Rural women had more unmet need compared to urban ones. The random effects at the community level were 47%. There are big differences in unmet need across communities. Therefore, there is need to contextualise family planning services in Zambia.