Background: Contraceptive behavior and unmet need for family planning, particularly among the tribal women of reproductive age in India, still remains a public health concern. This needs to be explored in different geographical regions.
Objectives: : This study aimed to ascertain the contraceptive behavior of tribal married women of 15-49 years and to assess the unmet need for family planning and its determinants.
Methods: : A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted during May 2019 to April 2020 in Barabani Block of Paschim Bardhaman District, West Bengal. A calculated sample of 530 study participants was selected from the study area by the simple random sampling. Required data on contraceptive behavior characteristics, unmet need, and correlates were collected by interviewing them with a predesigned schedule. Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were done. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software v. 20.
Results: : All study participants were Hindu and belonged to Santhal ethnicity; 53.4% were illiterate; 51.7% had early marriage, and 52.4% had adolescent pregnancy. Only 41.1% women were found currently using any contraceptives, another 14.5% ever used and 44.4% never used any methods. Apprehension of side effects and spouse disapproval were reported as two common reasons for never using contraceptives. The age of the women appeared as a significant predictor of current contraceptive use. Overall, unmet need for family planning was 19.4% and age of the women, socioeconomic status, and type of the family were found as significant predictors.
Conclusion: Issues contributing to unsatisfactory contraceptive behavior and high unmet need for family planning need to be addressed appropriately.
Keywords: Contraceptive behavior; Paschim Bardhaman; West Bengal; tribal married women; unmet need.