Citation
Speizer, Ilene S.; Calhoun, Lisa M.; Hoke, Theresa; & Sengupta, Ranajit (2013). Measurement of Unmet Need for Family Planning: Longitudinal Analysis of the Impact of Fertility Desires on Subsequent Childbearing Behaviors among Urban Women from Uttar Pradesh, India. Contraception, 88(4), 553-560. PMCID: PMC3835184Abstract
BACKGROUND: The measure of unmet need relies on women's reported fertility desires; previous research has demonstrated that fertility desires may be fluid and not firm.STUDY DESIGN: Our study uses recently collected longitudinal data from four cities in Uttar Pradesh, India, to examine whether women's fertility desires and family planning (FP) use at baseline predict pregnancy/birth experience in the 2-year follow-up period.
RESULTS: Multivariate models demonstrate that women who were using any method of FP and reported an intention to stop childbearing were the least likely to experience a pregnancy/birth in the 2-year follow-up period. The stated desire to delay childbearing, whether or not the woman was using FP, did not distinguish pregnancy/birth experience. Ninety-two percent of pregnancies/births over the follow-up period were considered "wanted then" suggesting post-hoc rationalization of the pregnancy/birth even among those women who reported a desire to stop childbearing 2 years earlier.
CONCLUSIONS: More nuanced assessments of fertility intentions may be needed to adequately gauge latent FP needs. Non-users of FP may be ambivalent about future childbearing and the timing of future births; these women may not have an unmet need for FP as typically defined.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2013.04.006Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2013Journal Title
ContraceptionAuthor(s)
Speizer, Ilene S.Calhoun, Lisa M.
Hoke, Theresa
Sengupta, Ranajit
PMCID
PMC3835184ORCiD
Speizer - 0000-0001-6204-1316Calhoun - 000-0002-3499-9372