Differences of Unmet Need for Family Planning in Rural-Urban Areas among Women of Reproductive Age in Nigeria

Nigeria is facing significant challenges in terms of population growth and maternal mortality rates, which are among the highest in the world. The unmet need for family planning is a critical public health issue in Nigeria, significantly impacting maternal and child health outcomes. Despite global advancements in reproductive health, rural Nigerian women face higher unmet needs due to limited access to modern contraceptives, skilled healthcare providers, and accurate reproductive health information. The urban-rural differentials in unmet need for child spacing and limiting among fecund women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in Nigeria were examined, utilizing data from the Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) survey. Cross-sectional data of 2,500 fecund women aged 15-49 years were analyzed. The PMA survey collected data on reproductive health, family planning, and other health-related indicators across multiple countries, including Nigeria. Demographic characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests in STATA examined associations between unmet family planning needs and socio-demographic factors, finding statistical significance at P<0.05. Findings revealed substantial disparities: rural fecund women have higher unmet needs for family planning (22.6%) compared to urban women (8.9%). Unmet need for child spacing is higher among younger urban women (12%) and older rural women (40%). Unmet need for child limiting is comparable between rural and urban areas (7.7% vs. 7.0%, P=0.641), contrasting previous studies reporting higher unmet needs in rural areas. This study revealed significant urban-rural disparities in unmet need for family planning among fecund women in Nigeria. Rural women experience higher unmet needs, particularly for child spacing, due to limited access to contraceptives and healthcare services. In order to address the challenges in the unmet need for child spacing and unmet need for child limiting, efforts should be intensified to improve the availability and accessibility of family planning services in rural areas. Targeted interventions are essential to bridge these gaps and improve reproductive health outcomes.