Ceren VARER AKPINAR, Aliye MANDIRACIOĞLU, Safiye ÖZVURMAZ, Fatma KURT, Abdülkadir DENİZ
Turkish Journal of Public Health - 2026;24(1):232-243
Objective: Unmet need for modern family planning remains high in Türkiye, where one in three women lacks access to effective contraception. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of unmet need in a rural region and to qualitatively explore couples' perceptions and barriers to modern method use. Methods: A mixed-methods design was implemented in a rural area of Aydın province. Quantitative data were collected from questionnaires administered to 186 women and their husbands. Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 14 women and 7 men. Quantitative analyses examined factors associated with unmet need, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results: Overall, 87.1% of couples had an unmet need for modern family planning. Unmet need was higher among women with no formal education, those without recent family planning education, and those whose partners disapproved of modern methods or expressed concerns about side effects. Six themes emerged as barriers: side effects and health concerns, difficulty of use, financial and system-related access barriers, partner and peer influence, lack of knowledge, and cultural or religious beliefs. Conclusion: Unmet need reflects intersecting individual, relational, and structural barriers. Improving education, partner engagement, and access to affordable services may reduce unmet need.
