Asian Journal Of Social Pharmacy

Abstract: Objective To explain why there is a high level of unmet need for contraception in Cambodia—a country where effective methods of birth control are cheaply available and morally acceptable. Methods A mixed methods were adopted: data from the Cambodian Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 2005, 2010 and 2015 being used to examine trends and differentials of contraceptive prevalence among women of reproductive age in Cambodia. Results and Conclusion The likelihood of having an unmet need for contraception increased as education level and wealth decreased; urban or rural residence had no significant effect. However, the likelihood of using traditional methods, rather than modern methods, increased as education and wealth increased.

Key words: unmet need, contraception, Cambodia, contraceptive prevalence, effective method, birth control, likelihood