Measuring the Unmet Need for Contraception: Comment on Bongaarts

The author critically examines an article by John Bongaarts in which Bongaarts proposed a modification in the measurement of unmet need for contraception that Westoff and others have developed. My aim here is not to review his criticisms in detail nor to discuss their technical aspects but rather to summarize the differences in the major concepts and arguments and to highlight their policy and programmatic implications. A reply by Bongaarts is included (pp. 126-7). (EXCERPT)