Open AccessFamily planning and unmet need among Iraqi Kurds
Author(s) -
Agha Sy,
Rasheed Bo
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2007.13.6.1382
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , family planning , medicine , environmental health , demography , family medicine , population , research methodology , sociology
This study in Dohuk district of Kurdistan region, northern Iraq, in 2003 estimated the prevalence of contraceptive use and unmet need, and investigated associated knowledge, attitudes and practices. With multi-stage sampling, 800 married women aged 15-49 years were interviewed. Current prevalence of contraceptive use (any method) among 668 non-pregnant women was 60.6%: use of modern methods was 26.5% and traditional methods was 34.1%. Among all respondents, current unmet need for any contraception was 29.3% (most commonly among women of low socioeconomic status) and that for modern (effective) contraception was 28.5% (most commonly among women of high socioeconomic status). A comprehensive and decentralized family planning programme needs to be implemented in the region.