Some interesting food for thought concocted during a literature review adventure.
Demographers use the term "unmet need for family planning" to refer to couples who report not wanting any more children, yet are not using any form of contraceptives. This is actually incredibly common. In my sample of couples in northern Tanzania (n=650), 20% of women say that they do not want any more children however they are not using any form of contraceptives.
However, this very notion of "unmet need" is debatable. Linguistically incorrect and paternalistic, Lant Pritchett might say:
Although general linguistic usage would rank "needs" higher in the hierarchy of wants than "demands" or "desires," in calculating "unmet need" all women not wanting a child who report not using contraception ... are classified as "needing" contraception. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 37 percent of those with "unmet need" intend to use contraception, even though 85 percent know of a modern method. Therefore, women who have no demonstrated demand or expressed desire for family planning are reported as "needing" it. "Unmet need" does not reflect just women who want contraceptives (a supply need) but also those women who require motivation to want what they are presumed to need. This usage is consistent only with either a very broad, or very paternalistic, definition of "need."
Demographers use the term "unmet need for family planning" to refer to couples who report not wanting any more children, yet are not using any form of contraceptives. This is actually incredibly common. In my sample of couples in northern Tanzania (n=650), 20% of women say that they do not want any more children however they are not using any form of contraceptives.
However, this very notion of "unmet need" is debatable. Linguistically incorrect and paternalistic, Lant Pritchett might say:
Although general linguistic usage would rank "needs" higher in the hierarchy of wants than "demands" or "desires," in calculating "unmet need" all women not wanting a child who report not using contraception ... are classified as "needing" contraception. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 37 percent of those with "unmet need" intend to use contraception, even though 85 percent know of a modern method. Therefore, women who have no demonstrated demand or expressed desire for family planning are reported as "needing" it. "Unmet need" does not reflect just women who want contraceptives (a supply need) but also those women who require motivation to want what they are presumed to need. This usage is consistent only with either a very broad, or very paternalistic, definition of "need."
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