CONTRACEPTIVE UTILIZATION AND UNMET NEED FOR FAMILY PLANNING AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN RAJASTHAN: A HOSPITAL-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Family planning is a key component of reproductive healthcare that contributes to improved maternal and child health by preventing unintended pregnancies and optimizing birth spacing. Despite significant progress in family planning services in India, unmet need for contraception remains an important public health concern, particularly among women with limited access to reproductive health services.

Objectives: To assess contraceptive utilization, estimate the prevalence of unmet need for family planning, and identify factors associated with unmet need among women attending a tertiary care hospital in Rajasthan.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 440 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) attending the outpatient Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Rajasthan between July 2025 and December 2025. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a pretested, interviewer-administered structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive history, contraceptive practices, and family planning needs. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of unmet need. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Among the 440 participants, 288 (65.5%) were current users of contraception, whereas 152 (34.5%) were non-users. Female sterilization was the most commonly used contraceptive method, followed by male condoms and oral contraceptive pills. The overall prevalence of unmet need for family planning was 16.8%, with unmet need for spacing exceeding unmet need for limiting births. Fear of side effects, husband or family opposition, and inadequate knowledge were the most frequently reported reasons for non-use of contraception. Multivariable logistic regression identified lower educational status, absence of family planning counselling, lack of husband's support, and rural residence as significant independent predictors of unmet need for family planning.

Conclusion: Although contraceptive utilization among women attending the tertiary care hospital was encouraging, a substantial unmet need for family planning persists. Strengthening family planning counselling, improving awareness regarding modern reversible contraceptive methods, promoting male partner involvement, and addressing barriers among rural and less educated women may help reduce unmet need and improve reproductive health outcomes.