Introduction

According to WHO, 2016 report unmet need for contraception is the proportion of currently married or in sexual union women desiring to limit or space childbearing but not using any contraceptive methods. Unmet need remains a useful tool in identifying and targeting women at high risk of unintended pregnancy. It is one of the indicators used for monitoring of family planning programs [1]. The use of modern contraceptive methods remains an important component in the reduction of fertility as well as maternal, infant and child morbidity and mortality [2, 3].

Many women in crises, be it social crisis like in refugee camps or economic crisis, are vulnerable from the insecurity and disruption of an emergency, they usually face a continuing risk of unwanted pregnancy and various maternal complications. Furthermore, they are at increased risk of sexual violence and its consequences [4]. UNHCR estimates that around 15.4 million border-crossing refugees found worldwide in 2011. Among those, females and children accounted for 48% and 46% of the total refugees respectively [4]. Ethiopia was the sixth largest country with regard to number of refugee population having a total of 376,400 refugees by the end of 2012 [5]. women and children in refugee camps may actually increase their risk of being sexually violated, and are exposed to rape, unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortions and spread of STI /HIV which lead them to long-term psychological problem and high infant & maternal mortality [6, 7].

According to UNHCR, 2015 health information system (HIS) annual report, the utilization of modern contraceptive methods among Eritrean women, reside in refugee camps of Tigray, Ethiopia is low (32%) [8]. Complications during pregnancy or childbirth are the leading causes of death and disability among women of reproductive age group in developing countries. This is even worse in areas where there is conflict as it leads to lack of accessibility to family planning [9].

Refugee women in conflict situations are at an increased risk for unintended pregnancies, poor child spacing, unfavorable pregnancy outcomes and STIs including HIV [10]. The higher rate of unmet need is worse among refugees in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rural residents, un-educated and poor women are also at higher risk [11,12,13].

Displaced women expose to sexual violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, which all lead to different health related complications [14, 15]. Over all, lack of contraception leads to impediments in health, human rights, social and economic development. These conditions indicate that reproductive health care is crucial need of refugees, from comprehensive family planning support to emergency contraception provision [16,17,18].

As there is no previous study in the study area, this study aims at assessing the prevalence and predictors of unmet need for modern contraception among the reproductive age group women of Eritrean refugee’s in Tigray, north Ethiopia.

Main text

Methods

Study setting, study population and sampling

Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among women of reproductive age group in Eritrean refugees found in Tigray, Ethiopia from July to September 2016. There are four Eritrean refugee camps in shire operation named as “Adi-harush”, “Shimelba”, “May-ayni” and “Hitsats”, which are located 1167, 1203, 1150, and 1120 Kilometers far from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. According to UNHCR 2016 population report, there were 6680 reproductive age group women refugees in the camps. After we obtained a list of each household from the respective refugee, reproductive age group women were selected proportional from each refugee camp. Finally, systematic random sampling method was used to get respondents. Sample size was determined using a single population proportion formula with the assumptions prevalence of unmet need (p = 0.5, because there was no previous study), 95% CI (Ζ1−α/2) = 1.96), 5% degree of marginal error (d), finite population correction formula (because the total women in the refugee camps were < 10,000) and 10% non-response rate. The sample size was 400 [19].

Data collection and data quality control

Data were collected using structured interview administered questionnaire, which was adapted and modified from (EDHS), 2011 [20]. The questionnaire was pretested by the principal investigators in “Endabaguna” Town, Tigray, and north Ethiopia.

Data were collected by interviewing the respondents. Eight diploma nurses collected the data and supervised by four BSc nurses. To assure quality of the data, training was given to the data collectors and supervisors by the principal investigator for 2 days. The supervisors and principal investigator checked the filled questionnaires daily. During data collection, if there were more than eligible women in a household one woman selected randomly.

Variables and measurement

Dependent variable Unmet need for modern contraception (unmet versus met need).

Independent variables Socio-demographic, reproductive, contraceptive related and service provision related variables.

Favorable attitude towards modern contraceptive methods Respondents who scored points greater than or equal to the mean score (45.2) of the total 12 items of attitude related questions.

Knowledgeable about modern contraceptive methods When a women is able to mention at least one modern contraceptive methods by here self or know after description of any modern method.

Unmet need for modern contraception Refers to the contraceptive need of fecund and currently married women or women in union who are either not pregnant and want child later on or not at all, or who are pregnant as result of a miss-timed or unwanted pregnancy but not using any contraceptive method.

Unmet need for limiting The percentage of non-pregnant women who do not want another child at all and are pregnant because of unwanted pregnancy, but not using any modern contraceptive method.

Unmet need for spacing The percentage of not pregnant women who want another child after 2 years and are pregnant as result of a miss-timed pregnancy, but not using any modern contraceptive method.

Data management and analysis procedure

We coded, cleaned and entered the collected data by using SPSS version 21.0 and analyzed. Descriptive statistics like mean and standard deviation were used to quantitative data, and frequencies and proportions used for categorical data. Binary logistic regression analysis using odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to determine association between predictors and the outcome variable. Variables with the P-value of less than 0.05 in both the bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were considered as statistically significant predictors.

Results

A total of 400 participants were included in the study having a 100% response rate.

Socio-demographic characteristics

Data from 400 reproductive age group women were analyzed. The mean (± SD) age of the women was 28.39 (± 7.15). Related to the marital status and residency, 314 (78.5%) were married and 238 (59.5%) reside in rural areas before displaced from their country. Regarding ethnicity, 245 (61.3%) were Tigrigna. A little above half (54%) of the total respondents were attended elementary school and were Orthodox Christian (55.5%) by religion. More than two-third (69.3%) of the respondents were housewives by occupation before displacing. Three hundred forty five (86.3%) of partners/husbands of the women had attained formal education, and 315(78.8%) of them had occupation (Table 1).

Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics of reproductive age group (15-49) women in Eritrean refugee camps in Tigray, north Ethiopia, 2016
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Reproductive health characteristics

The mean (± SD) age at first marriage was 19 (±  2.6) years old. Three hundred forty-three (85.8%) women had history of pregnancy, among those 349 (87.4%) had more than one pregnancy in their lifetime. A hundred and sixty-seven (41.8%), women had unmet need for modern contraception in the study. Three hundred sixteen (79%) respondents have ever heard about modern contraceptive methods. Out of those, 157 (39.25%) participants had knowledge and 235 (58.75%) had favorable attitude towards use of modern contraceptive methods. Two hundred forty-five (61.5%) of the women had discussed with their husband on modern contraceptive methods use and 182 (45.5%) of the respondents were supported to use contraceptive methods by their husbands. Both partners decided to use modern contraceptive methods was 203 (50.8%) and decided on the number of children to have for the future in their life together 291 (72.8%). Two hundred eight (52%) of the respondents had history of exposure to media about modern contraceptive methods and 192 (48%) had not (Table 2).

Table 2 Reproductive health characteristics of reproductive age group women in Eritrean refugee camps in Tigray, north Ethiopia, 2016
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Prevalence and factors associated with unmet need for modern contraceptive methods

The total unmet need for modern contraception was 41.8% (95% CI 36.99%–46.63%) with 31.8% unmet need for spacing and 10% unmet need for and limiting. The analysis of bivariable logistic regression indicated that history of abortion, ever use of modern contraceptive methods, number of ANC visits and exposure to media about modern contraceptives were variables significantly associated with modern contraception. In addition, attitude towards modern contraceptives, discussion with husband on contraception, availability of modern contraceptive methods in the health facility, and discussion on contraception with community health workers were significant variables associated with unmet need for modern contraception with p-value < 0.05.

In the multivariable logistic regression model, respondents’ attitude towards modern contraceptive use and availability of modern contraceptive methods were significantly associated with the unmet need for modern contraceptive use. Women who had no enough availability of modern contraceptive methods were 3.5 times more likely to have unmet need for modern contraception as compared to those who have [AOR = 2.77 95% CI (1.63, 4.70)]. Women who had favorable attitude towards utilization of modern contraceptive methods were less likely to have unmet need for modern contraception by 63% as compared to those who had unfavorable attitude [AOR = 0.49 95% CI (0.31, 0.79)] (Table 3).

Table 3 Factors associated with unmet need for modern contraception methods among reproductive age women in Eritrean refugee camps, Tigray, north Ethiopia, 2016
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Discussion

The overall prevalence of unmet need for modern contraception was 41.8% (95% CI: 36.99%-46.63%). This is higher than studies conducted in Djibouti (8.8%), Kenya (9.9%), Uganda (7.8%) and Canada [21,22,23,24]. Whereas, it is lower than a study conducted in Uganda (52.1%) [25]. The discrepancy might be due to differences in expanded health service provision, availability and awareness to contraceptive methods, socio economic status, and educational status.

In multivariable analysis, respondents’ attitude towards modern contraceptive methods and availability of modern contraceptive methods found to be significant and determinant factor for the unmet need.

Women who had no enough availability of modern contraceptive methods were more likely to have unmet need as compared to those who have [AOR= 2.77, 95% CI (1.63, 4.70)]. This is consistent with the multi-country baseline assessment done among women selected refugee settings [26]. This result also supported with studies conducted among refugee women in Nigeria and Pakistan [27, 28]. Those studies suggested that there was a lack of availability to use modern contraceptive methods; none of the clients was using long and permanent modern contraceptive methods. At the same time, female condom utilization was nearly zero, emergency contraception was only available in the situation of post rape care; only short-term contraceptive methods reported. This causes low utilization of modern contraceptive services in the refugee settings.

Respondents’ attitude towards modern contraceptive use has a relevant input to meet the unmet need. Women who had favorable attitude towards utilization of modern contraceptive methods were less likely to have unmet need as compared to those who had unfavorable attitude [AOR =0.49, 95% CI (0.31, 0.79]. This finding was supported by a research conducted among refugees in Ethiopia [19]. The possible explanation could be women having unfavorable attitude towards modern contraceptive use influence the utilization of the services.

Conclusion

The prevalence of unmet need for modern contraceptive methods in the study area was 41.8%. Women attitude towards modern contraceptive methods and availability of modern contraceptive methods were significantly and independently predictors of unmet need for modern contraception.

Different stakeholders, together with Ethiopian government, should take a commitment to strengthen the availability of modern contraceptive supplies in the Eritrean refugee camps. They should also develop, together with health professionals, implementing programs to bring behavioral change and favorable attitude towards modern contraceptive use among Eritrean women in the refugee camps.

Limitation

The study used self-report (using questionnaire) method to measure the different independent variables, which may sometimes result in biased result.