Table 3 Summary of commonly studied determinants of unmet need for spacing and for limiting (+ = positive statistically significant association; – = negative statistically significant association; n = no statistically significant association)

Level health service

Access to FP services

–

–

–

–

Access to FP information

–

–

–

–

–

Level household

Rural residence

+

n

+

n

n

–

+

+

n

+

n

Low socioeconomic status

+

+

+

+

+

n

Level couple

Couple discussing FP

+

n

–

+

Level partner

Partner’s approval of FP

n

–

Partner’s level of education

–

n

n

n

n

n

Partner’s desire for more children

–

–

+

Level woman

Decision-making authority

–

–

Woman’s approval of FP

–

Woman’s level of own income

–

n

n

–

n

n

–

n

Woman’s level of education

n

–

–

–

n

–

–

–

n

–

+

Woman’s awareness or knowledge of FP

–

n

n

–

Experience of child death

n

n

–

n

Number of previous children or pregnancies

–

n

–

+

+

+

n

+

Age of woman at marriage

–

+

n

n

–

Age of woman

–

n

–

±^a

–

–

n

+

n

Unmet need for limiting (%)

14^r

14^r

13^r

-

13^r

16

6

Unmet need for spacing (%)

10^r

31^r

24^r

-

39^r

42

21

Country

Pakistan

Sudan

Ethiopia

Zambia

Ethiopia

Rwanda

Eritrea

Publication*

Ahmed et al., 2011 [48]

Ali and Okud, 2013 [36]

Hailemariam and Haddis, 2011 [8]

Imasiku et al., 2014 [33]

Mekonnen and Worku, 2011 [12]

Ndaruhuye et al., 2009 [37]

Woldemicael and Beaujot, 2011 [43]