SynthesisReproductive health2021
The unmet needs for modern family planning methods among postpartum women in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the literature.
Synthesis in Reproductive health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 79 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
79 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Unmet need for family planning among reproductive-age women living with HIV in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC women's health · 2026Pooled it
- Antenatal Care Interventions to Increase Contraceptive Use Following Birth in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.Global health, science and practice · 2024Pooled it
- Prevalence of unmet need for family planning and unintended pregnancies among women of reproductive age living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.African health sciences · 2024Pooled it
- Adolescents' Contraceptive Uptake in Ethiopia: A Meta-Analysis.BioMed research international · 2022Pooled it
- Impact of group antenatal care on lactational amenorrhea method awareness and knowledge: A cluster randomized control trial.PloS one · 2025Trial
- Shadow pandemics: violence and vulnerability as part of the COVID-19 experience in Sub-Saharan Africa.Health promotion international · 2026Article
- Determinants of children ever born among women in Somalia: a national survey study.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2026Article
- Initiation of immediate postpartum family planning and its determinants among women delivering in health facilities: a cross-sectional study.Reproductive health · 2026Article
- Family planning high impact practices in Francophone West Africa: ownership, strategies and use for programming.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Understanding Risk Factors for Unmet Contraceptive Needs Among Married and Cohabiting Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from 22 Countries.Rwanda journal of medicine and health sciences · 2026Article
- Evaluating two models of postpartum family planning counseling on contraceptive uptake, knowledge, and intended use: evidence from a repeated cross-sectional study in Ghana.Reproductive health · 2026Article
- Spatial distribution and its associated factors of unmet need for family planning among women of reproductive age in administrative woredas of Ethiopia.BMC women's health · 2026Article
- Assessing patterns, barriers, and motivations for family planning utilization among currently pregnant women in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2026Article
- Insights into long-acting reversible contraceptive practices in Sub-Saharan Africa: A machine learning perspective.PloS one · 2026Article
- Modern contraceptive use, associated factors and reasons for non-use among young lactating mothers in the context of free family planning services in the Kaya municipality setting, Burkina Faso.Journal of public health in Africa · 2026Article
- Family planning services financing in the West African Economic and Monetary Union countries: Trend analysis from 2013 to 2021.Journal of public health in Africa · 2026Article
- Investigating the factors associated with induced abortion in six nations from the global south.BMC public health · 2025Article
- The effect of a sexual and reproductive health programme on socio-economic and education-related inequities in the use of modern contraceptives in seven sub-regions in Uganda: a case of RISE programme 2019-2023.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Knowledge, Utilisation and Associated Factors of Family Planning in the Extended Postpartum Period, in Karongi District, Rwanda.Rwanda journal of medicine and health sciences · 2025Article
- Short interpregnancy interval following reproductive coercion: A prospective cohort study of pregnant Ethiopian women.Pregnancy (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2025Article
19 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSub-Saharan Africa has the highest fertility rate in the world, with the highest unmet need for family planning (FP). Yet, there is a lack of knowledge about the determinants for non-utilisation of modern contraceptive methods among women of reproductive age. This systematic review of literature assessed factors affecting the unmet need and reasons for non-utilisation of modern contraceptive methods during the postpartum period in Sub-Saharan African women.
methodsAn online literature search was conducted in several databases: MEDLINE, Cochrane Review, PubMed, Elsevier's Science Direct and Web of Science. The search was completed by hand searching. Data were extracted and summarised using the Arksey and O'Malley methodology.
resultsIn total, 19 studies were included; one qualitative study, seventeen quantitative, and one used a mixed-methods approach. Studies were conducted in Ethiopia (n = 11), Nigeria (n = 3), Kenya (n = 2), Malawi (n = 2) and Uganda (n = 1). Factors affecting the unmet need for modern contraceptive methods were described at three levels: (a) individual; (b) household; and (c) healthcare facility level. Reasons for non-use of FP included: fear of side effects; husband's disapproval; the absence of menses; abstinence; and low perception of risk of pregnancy.
conclusionUnmet needs in postpartum FP in women from Sub-Saharan Africa were associated with health-system and socio-demographic determinants. We suggest that there is a need to improve the awareness of modern contraceptive methods through effective interventions. Further research is needed for under-studied countries in this continent.
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