Determination of cultural factors in decreasing the unmet needs for family planning and development of the service model

The aim of this study is to determine cultural factors in decreasing the unmet needs for family planning (FP) and develop the service model. Leininger's Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory constituted the conceptual framework of the study and ethno-nursing research method was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with 32 women who had unmet needs for FP. As a result of four stages of the ethno-nursing data analysis; 25 categories, 9 sub-themes and 5 main themes were reached. Main themes were determined as follows: family, religious belief and economic condition are the most important values directing the lives of women who have unmet needs for FP in a traditional lifestyle; women who have unmet needs for FP are absolutely expected to have a child in accordance with their gender roles as long as their economic and social conditions allow; it is very common among women who have unmet needs for FP to prevent pregnancy with the traditional withdrawal method either for a long time or at intervals throughout their marriage; cultural features like religion, fatalism and privacy, as well as problems caused by healthcare services affect meeting women's needs for FP; women who have unmet needs for FP demand receiving contraceptive healthcare services primarily from Family Health Centers (FHC) and being visited by healthcare professionals at home. As a result of the results obtained from the study, main themes and the related literature review; 'The Service Model of Unmet Needs for Family Planning' was developed. It is thought that the model will guide healthcare professionals in decreasing the unmet needs for FP.