Unmet Need for Family Planning for Urban Female Women in Cameroon: An Analysis of Trends and Determinants

Kelodjoue Samuel, University of Dschang
Louise Moyo, Université de Dschang

This study attempts to investigate on unmet need for family planning for urban female women in Cameroon its trend and determinants. It aims at declaring the women's reasons for having an unmet need and identifying the socio–economic determinants of unmet need. It is based on DHS of Cameroon which was conducted in 2004. It identifies that unmet need for for urban female women family planning varies from 25,2% in Douala and Yaoundé cities to 27.3% in rural areas of Western and Far North provinces. A high proportion of women with unmet need are those who have experienced unwanted pregnancies. Health concerns about contraceptives and social disapprovals are other important reasons. Interestingly, inadequate access to services and lack of knowledge about methods and outlets are not among the predominant causes of unmet need. The study identifies a significant relation between the unmet need and residence, age, work status, education, living standards, knowledge about contraceptives and children ever born.