The DHS Program

Determinants of Unmet Need for Family Planning among Women in Kenya: Insights from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (English) 

Document Type

Working Papers

Publication Topic(s)

Family Planning

Country(s)

Kenya

Survey

Kenya DHS, 2022

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Otieno, Joyce Akinyi, and Thomas Mawora Mwakudisa. 2024. Determinants of Unmet Need for Family Planning among Women in Kenya: Insights from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. DHS Working Papers No. 207. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF.

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Publication Date

September 2024

Publication ID

WP207

Abstract:

Unmet need for family planning remains a significant issue globally, including Kenya, where an estimated 10% of married women want to stop or delay childbearing but do not use contraception. Although Kenya has set a target to eliminate unmet need by 2030, a substantial unmet need persists, with 14% of currently married women lacking access to the family planning services they desire. This study aimed to assess the factors that contribute to the unmet need for family planning among women in Kenya. Specifically, the study examined the sociodemographic characteristics associated with unmet need, the role of women’s contraceptive knowledge and use, and the impact of access to health care services and availability of contraceptive methods. Data were drawn from the nationally representative 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. The analysis revealed that a higher proportion of women in the youngest (15–19) and oldest (45–49) age groups experienced unmet need for family planning with the youngest at 22.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.7%, 26.5%) and the oldest at 19.1% (95% CI: 15.3%, 23.4%). Compared to the 20–24 age group, the odds of unmet need for family planning are 1.4 times higher (or 40% higher) for women age 15–19 and are not significantly different for women age 45–49. Education level was significantly associated with unmet need for family planning. Women with more than one living child had greater odds of unmet need compared to those with one child. Muslim women showed 40% greater odds of unmet need compared to Christians, while women who had undergone female genital mutilation had 20% lower odds of unmet need. Women in the middle and richer wealth quintiles had 30–40% lower odds of unmet need compared to the poorest. The study also showed that knowledge of specific contraceptive methods was not significantly associated with unmet need for family planning. Women who reported challenges in obtaining money for treatment had 30% lower odds of unmet need. Other access barriers such as distance to facilities and needing permission were not significantly associated with unmet need. This study identifies factors that determine unmet need for family planning in Kenya. These include characteristics of women, cultural influences, and limitations in the health care system. A combination of approaches is recommended to address the unmet need for family planning in Kenya.