title: Contraceptive use and unmet need for family planning in Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of contraceptive use and unmet need for family planning in Iran and to explore the public-health implications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 2120 married women aged 15-49 years. The sample population was enrolled in 6 large Iranian cities (Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Ahvaz) and 2 small cities (Zahedan and Kerman) from September 22 to December 20, 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall contraceptive prevalence rate was 81.5% and the unmet need for any method of contraception was 2.6% (95% confidence interval, 2.0%-3.3%). Given the frequency of women who used traditional contraceptive methods (22.3%), the unmet need for modern methods was estimated as 17.4%. The main reasons given for unmet need for family planning were low perceived risk of pregnancy (41.8%) and family opposition (21.8%). Unwanted pregnancy was reported by 30.7% of the participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high rate of unmet need for modern contraceptive methods might potentially lead to increased rates of unwanted pregnancies and induced abortions. Healthcare policymakers should, therefore, be warned against a sense of complacency that family planning in Iran does not need their support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ahvaz, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Motlaq
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eslami
authors.forename: Mahdieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazdanpanah
authors.forename: Nouzar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakhaee
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008875:Middle Aged; D011050:Policy Making; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents