abdoalsir/family-planning-married-women-kassala-2025-
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healthcareCreator:
abd
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Cross-sectional mixed-methods study on family planning prevalence and determinants among 384 married women in Kassala City, Sudan (2025). Chi-square, logistic regression, thematic analysis, Python + SPSS.
# Family Planning Among Married Women of Reproductive Age in Kassala City
## Kassala, Sudan – 2025
**Study type:** Cross-sectional descriptive study (mixed methods)
**Degree level:** MD (Family Medicine, Sudan Medical Specializations Board)
**Institution:** Primary healthcare centres, Kassala City
**Sample size:** N = 384 married women of reproductive age (15–45 years)
**Data analyst:** Abdulrahman Sirelkhatim
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## Background
Access to family planning services is a cornerstone of reproductive health and a key determinant of
maternal and child outcomes. In Sudan, the total fertility rate remains high and contraceptive
prevalence is below regional targets, with significant variation across states. Kassala — a city in
eastern Sudan that has absorbed large numbers of internally displaced persons and refugees from
neighbouring conflict zones — represents a setting where reproductive health services face compounding
pressures from population growth, resource constraints, and deep-rooted social norms.
Understanding the factors that drive or inhibit family planning uptake in this setting requires
attention not only to structural factors such as service availability, but also to the social and
relational dynamics that shape women's contraceptive behaviour — particularly the role of husbands,
religious leaders, and community norms. This study examines FP utilization patterns, spousal and
community influences, information quality, and barriers to uptake among married women of reproductive
age in Kassala City.
A mixed-methods approach was employed: quantitative data were analyzed via SPSS, and four open-ended
questions were analyzed thematically. The qualitative findings are documented in
`6_docs/qualitative_analysis.md` and integrated into the results narrative.
## Objectives
- Estimate the prevalence of current family planning use
- Describe the distribution of contraceptive methods used
- Identify sociodemographic, spousal, and community-level factors associated w …