Regional Disparities in Unmet Needs for Family Planning in Cote d'Ivoire: Influencing Factors and Implications for Health Reproductive Policies

Tiassigué KONE, University Alassane Ouattara Of Bouake
Ibrahima Koffi, Ministère de l'Économie, du Plan et du Développement

This study investigates unmet needs for FP among married women in Côte d'Ivoire, revealing significant regional disparities. Despite initiatives to enhance contraceptive use since the 1994 ICPD recommendations, modern contraceptive prevalence remains low at 17.9% in 2021. Unmet need for FP has declined over the years but still stands at 22% in 2021, with particularly high rates in regions such as Goh-Djiboua and Zanzan (26%), compared to lower rates in Yamoussoukro (15%) and Lagunes (19%). Using data from the 2021 DHS, we employed logistic regression to identify factors influencing unmet needs. Our analysis shows that regional context significantly impacts unmet needs, with lower risks found in Lagunes, Savanes, Vallée du Bandama, Woroba, and Zanzan. The number of Children EB and age emerge as the most common explanatory factors in seven out of eleven regions, highlighting how women's reproductive experiences and current life stage influence their FP needs. Influential factors also include religion, ethnicity, wealth index, decision-making regarding contraception, and education level. The decision-making status regarding contraception is critical in over half of the regions, suggesting that empowering women could effectively reduce unmet needs. The findings underscore the necessity for targeted, region-specific strategies to improve reproductive health outcomes in the country.

Keywords: Family Planning and Contraception, Fertility, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

See extended abstract.