UNMET NEED FOR FAMILY PLANNING AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE: GLOBAL, SOUTH ASIAN, AND CENTRAL ASIAN PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Unmet need a gap between reproductive age group women’s their reproductive intentions and their contraceptive behavior which remains a major public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh, India, Nepal. It reflects the gap between women’s intentions regarding childbearing and their ability to use effective contraceptive methods. This narrative review explores the scale of unmet need, its underlying determinants, and its health and social consequences, with a particular focus on global trends and the specific contexts of South Asia and Central Asia. Addressing this gap through rights-based, culturally sensitive, and context-appropriate interventions is crucial for improving maternal and reproductive health outcomes and for advancing progress toward universal access to sexual and reproductive health services.