Male Unmet Need for Contraception in Sub-Saharan Africa

Kristin Bietsch, Princeton University

The measurement of unmet need, often constructed for women, offers an insight into the sexual and reproductive health needs of men. Composed of two interrelated aspects of fertility, unmet need is determined by the desire to delay or avoid future childbearing and the use of effective contraception to realize this goal. Unmet need among males deserves attention, not simply as compared to women, but as a separate, heterogeneous group of sexually active individuals (Basu 1996, Greene and Biddlecom 2000 both argue for the study of differences between men as opposed to between genders). An analysis of male unmet need provides insight into their reproductive preferences and actions, offering a more nuanced view of fertility and reproductive health in Sub-Saharan Africa.