Background: Unmet need for family planning represents the gap between women’s fertility intentions and their contraceptive behaviour. It remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, contributing to unintended pregnancies, increased maternal morbidity, and poor socio-economic development. Despite national efforts aimed at expanding access to modern contraceptives, significant disparities persist, often driven by socio-demographic factors such as age, education, religion, and employment status. While national and regional studies have examined these predictors extensively, limited evidence exists at the local government level, particularly within Ido/Osi LGA of Ekiti State, where unique socio-cultural and service-delivery patterns may influence family-planning uptake. Objective: This study examined the influence of socio-demographic factors age, level of education, religion, and employment status on unmet need for family planning among women of reproductive age in Ido/Osi LGA, Ekiti State. Methodology: A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among women aged 15–49 who had given birth in the last three years. A sample size of 246 was determined using Fischer’s formula, and respondents were selected via a multistage sampling technique involving random selection of wards, settlements, households, and eligible individuals. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) summarized respondents’ characteristics and fertility behaviour. Chi-square tests assessed associations between socio-demographic variables and unmet need, while logistic regression was applied for further analysis. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ido/Osi Local Government Health Ethics Committee. Key Findings: A total of 246 women participated, predominantly aged 25–34 years and mainly residing in rural communities (83.7%). Unmet need for family planning was high, as 59.8% of respondents did not intend their most recent pregnancy. Religion showed a statistically significant association with unmet need (p = 0.002), as did political ward of residence (p 0.05). Conclusion: Unmet need for family planning in Ido/Osi LGA remains substantial and is significantly influenced by religious affiliation and geographic location within the LGA. Interventions must therefore be context-specific, addressing cultural and spatial disparities while improving family-planning awareness, counselling, and service accessibility. Tailored community-based strategies and collaboration with religious and local leaders may enhance contraceptive uptake and reduce unmet need.
Femi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.