Status and tendency projection of contraceptive prevalence and unmet need for family planning in Asian area from 1990 to 2030

Objective To ensure the promotion of reproductive health and formulation of related policies through the analysis and estimation of contraceptive prevalence and unmet need for family planning of married or in union women of reproductive age in Asian area. Methods Data were selected from the open database of World Contraceptive Use 2017 to analyze the current status (1990-2017) and estimation (2018-2030) of unmet need for family planning and contraceptive prevalence in Asian area. Results The contraceptive prevalence in Asia increased from 56.8% (95% CI=53.6%-60.3%) in 1990 to 66.0% (95% CI=60.9%-70.0%) in 2017, whereas unmet need for family planning decreased from 14.2% (95% CI=12.6%-16.3%) to 10.1% (95% CI=8.5%-12.4%) and there was a change for the composition of contraceptive methods with an increase for modern contraceptive methods. The contraceptive prevalence of China in 2017 was higher than the counterpart in 1990, despite no statistical difference. In 2017, the unmet need for family planning in Central Asia, Eastern Asia, Southeast Asia, Southern Asia and Western Asia were 13.1% (95% CI=9.7%-18.4%), 4.6% (95% CI=2.4%-9.5%), 12.2% (95% CI=10.2%-14.6%), 13.2% (95% CI=10.3%-16.7%), 14.1% (95% CI=11.7%-17.2%) respectively. And the unmet need for family planning of China was 3.7% (95% CI=1.4%-8.3%) in 2017. It was predicted that until 2030, the unmet need for family planning in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Southern Asia and Western Asia would show a downward trend (P<0.001) despite an upward trend of unmet need for family planning in China and Eastern Asia (P<0.001) as well as a decrease in absolute terms, called “bi-directional effect”. Conclusion Contraception increased in Asia from 1990 to 2017, and unmet need for family planning decreased. The situation was predicted to continue until 2030. It was essential for China to attach attention to the bi-directional effect with increase of unmet need of family planning and decrease of absolute number and make corresponding adjustment and promotion of family planning service.