This indicator reflects the proportion of married women who express a desire for family planning services but are unable to access them, highlighting a critical gap in reproductive health care. It captures both the need for spacing between births—encompassing those who are currently pregnant with mistimed pregnancies, as well as those wishing to delay future births—and the need for limiting family size, which includes women desiring no more children. By identifying the percentage of women faced with these unmet needs, the indicator sheds light on underlying social, economic, and healthcare barriers impacting women's autonomy over reproductive choices. This metric is essential for policymakers aiming to enhance family planning services and promote gender equality in health access.
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