Abstract

This study explores the factors influencing the non-utilization of family planning methods among married women aged 15-49 in the rural setting of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. The introduction provides a contextual background, emphasizing the significance of family planning and the widespread challenges faced in the region. The methodology involves a community-based descriptive cross-sectional study, focusing on 325 women aged 15-49. The study employs non-probability convenient sampling, utilizing interviewer- administered questionnaires and descriptive analysis techniques facilitated by SPSS version 25.0. The results reveal a strong correlation between educational status and family planning non-utilization, with lower educational levels associated with a higher percentage of non-users. The study identifies administrative failures, communication barriers, and healthcare accessibility issues as contributors to the unmet need for contraceptives. In conclusion, Nuwara Eliya's high maternal mortality rates underscore the urgency for structural changes in healthcare administration and policy reforms. Recommendations include strengthening the healthcare workforce, optimizing public health infrastructure, fostering community engagement, advocating for policy changes, and implementing data- driven strategies. This comprehensive approach aims to address the root causes of non- utilization, ultimately improving maternal health outcomes and socio-economic conditions in Nuwara Eliya.