A study released by the Higher Population Council (HPC) in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) highlighted geographic and social disparities in the use of family planning methods in Jordan, identifying education, economic status, nationality, location and access to health services as key factors influencing reproductive health decisions.

The findings were unveiled during a meeting held Monday to launch the study, which examined differences between users of modern and traditional family planning methods and those with unmet needs, with the aim of supporting targeted interventions that improve equitable access to services.

HPC Secretary-General Issa Masarweh said the study reflects a rights-based approach focused on strengthening couples' ability to make their own reproductive decisions. He said reproductive health policies and programs are important for supporting development and improving primary health care.

Masarweh said the study found geographic and social disparities in the use of modern and traditional family planning methods across governorates, with unmet need reaching 10.8% nationally and rising to 23.6% in Mafraq. He said the rates also varied by education level and economic well-being.

Loai Abu Samour, head of the study's research team, presented its findings during the meeting. The results showed that education, broader economic empowerment, location, nationality, age, reproductive preferences, number of living children, spousal discussion of decisions and quality of interaction with the health system emerged as the most significant factors influencing family planning decisions.

On education, the study found that higher education levels were associated with a markedly greater likelihood of using any family planning method, modern or traditional.