This study is part of a broader project that examines unmet need for contraception through in-depth studies of women of reproductive age and their male partners. The main objective is to examine the causes of unmet need for contraception, defined broadly to include non-users and users alike since contraceptive users may have unsatisfied contraceptive needs.
Attention is given to both traditional and modern methods of contraception.
A second objective is to explore the sociocultural constraints that stymie program efforts to increase contraceptive use in different cultural settings. Because a primary aim of population policy is to assist individuals in achieving their reproductive goals, eliminating unmet need is a policy aim in many countries. For these policies to be successful, it is essential to understand the causes of unmet need, namely those obstacles that stand between women's and men's fertility preferences and the implementation of those preferences through contraceptive practice. This study is one of several in-depth studies of the factors underlying unmet need. The studies have been conducted in a variety of settings, ranging from rural West Africa to urban South Asia.