1) Unmet contraceptive need: sexually active women wishing to avoid pregnancy but not using a modern method.

2) Satisfied need: women using a contraceptive method, whether modern or traditional.

3) No need: women desiring a pregnancy, pregnant, menopausal, or not sexually active.

The dependent variable, unmet contraceptive need, was analyzed using SPSS 21, with comparisons made using Chi-square, Fisher, Student, or Kruskal-Wallis tests, depending on the variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Out of the 528 women surveyed, 37 had no contraceptive needs as they were either pregnant or desiring motherhood. At the end of this study, 318 women out of the remaining 491 had unmet contraceptive needs, resulting in a prevalence of 64.8% ( Figure 1 ).

The average age of women with unmet contraceptive needs was 27.49 ± 7.61 years, with extremes ranging from 15 to 47 years. The age group 20 to 29 years accounted for 43.1% of the cases ( Table 1 ).

Women with unmet contraceptive needs had a first-cycle secondary education level (24.8%, 79/318), were married (47.8%, 152/318), lived in a monogamous household (86.8%, 171/197), and practiced Islam (54.1%, 172/318) ( Table 2 ).

In the study, just over half of the respondents (51.5%, 272/528) had previously used a method to delay or prevent pregnancy. The three main methods used were condoms (44.5%, 121/272), pills (39.7%, 108/272), and implants (32.0%, 87/272).

At the time of the survey, 32.8% (173/528) of the respondents were using a contraceptive method to delay or prevent pregnancy. The three main methods were condoms (39.3%, 68/173), pills (32.4%, 56/173), and implants (18.5%, 32/173) ( Table 3 ).

*Multiple responses permitted for this item.

Among the women not using contraceptive methods at the time of the survey (n = 355), 24 had a desire for motherhood (6.8%) and 13 were pregnant (3.7%). Among the women with unmet contraceptive needs (n = 318), several reasons explained why they were not using contraceptive methods ( Table 4 ).

*Multiple responses permitted for this item.

It was found that 23.9% (126/528) of the respondents would not feel at all comfortable discussing contraceptive methods with their spouses. Additionally, 9.7% (51/528) stated that their spouses definitively approved the use of contraceptive methods ( Table 5 ).

According to this study, age, educational level, marital status, ethnicity, gravidity, and parity increase the risk of unmet contraceptive need (P < 0.005) ( Table 6 ).

In this study, the prevalence of unmet contraceptive needs was 64.8% among the 491 women of reproductive age, indicating a substantial gap in family planning services in Parakou. This level is higher than that reported in Angola (35.6%) [9] but consistent with findings from Malawi [10] . Such variations may reflect differences in access to health services, sociocultural norms, and reproductive education. The results highlight the urgent need for locally adapted family planning policies and community-based strategies.

1. Age

The mean age of women with unmet needs was 27.5 years, with a predominance among those aged 20 - 29 years (43.1%). Similar patterns were reported in the DRC [11] , while adolescents remain particularly vulnerable due to cultural barriers and limited access to information [12] . These findings emphasize the importance of targeting young women with tailored interventions.

2. Education

Women with secondary education (first cycle) accounted for 24.8% of unmet needs. Evidence from Ethiopia [13] and Malawi [10] shows that lower educational levels reduce contraceptive use, while higher education enhances access but may still be constrained by cultural or religious beliefs [14] . Strengthening reproductive health education at all levels remains essential.

3. Marital Status

Nearly half (47.8%) of the women with unmet needs were married, consistent with findings in Ethiopia [15] . Spousal influence often limits contraceptive use, underscoring the need to involve men in family planning programs.

More than half of the women (51.5%) had previously used contraceptives, yet only 32.8% were current users. Discontinuous use, often linked to side effects or misinformation, mirrors trends in Ethiopia [16] . This suggests the need for regular follow-up and counseling to improve continuity.

The main reasons for non-use included a desire for pregnancy (6.8%) and current pregnancy (3.7%). Similar cultural and social influences have been observed in Nigeria [17] and Kenya [18] . Addressing misconceptions and stigma through awareness campaigns remains crucial.

Only 9.7% of women reported spousal approval, and 23.9% felt uncomfortable discussing contraceptive methods. Comparable findings from Ethiopia [13] and more recent evidence [19] show that male involvement is key to reducing unmet needs. Programs should therefore encourage open dialogue within couples.

1. Age

Women aged 20 - 29 had a reduced risk compared to adolescents. Adolescents remain more exposed due to restrictive norms and lack of tailored services [9] [12] . Conversely, unmet needs may rise after 35 years due to inadequate support for multiparous women [11] . Age-specific strategies, from adolescent-friendly services to postpartum care, are needed.

2. Education

Low education was strongly associated with unmet needs. Studies in Ethiopia [13] , Malawi [10] , and Tanzania [20] confirm that education enhances contraceptive knowledge and autonomy, despite persistent sociocultural barriers [14] . Incorporating sexual education into schools and communities is critical.

3. Marital Status

Married women had a higher risk, reflecting social and cultural pressures. Findings from Ethiopia [12] [13] and Togo [14] suggest that involving spouses can reduce unmet needs, while couple discussions are positively associated with modern contraceptive use [18] .

4. Ethnicity

Bariba women were more exposed to unmet needs, likely due to cultural practices or reduced service access. Similar disparities have been reported in the DRC [11] and Ethiopia [21] . Community-based approaches tailored to cultural contexts are necessary.

5. Gestity and Parity

High gestity (>5) and parity (>5) significantly increased risk. Multiparous women are often neglected in family planning programs [10] [13] . Integrating family planning into postpartum services, as recommended in Ethiopia [15] , would help address this gap.