Exploring the concept of unmet need within sexual and reproductive health in England: A qualitative Delphi exercise

Background Unmet need within sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a concept that is difficult to define and measure. This qualitative Delphi exercise was used to ascertain the opinions of SRH professionals on the conceptualisation and measurement of unmet need within SRH. Methods This exercise was carried out in two rounds. In the first round, respondents responded narratively to three prompts, which were then used to create a series of statements. In the second round, participants responded narratively to the statements created in the first round. Responses from both rounds were then coded and analysed thematically. Results Participants felt that an understanding of unmet need is an important part of SRH service design and provision, and believed that certain populations are often underrepresented within the datasets that are used to assess unmet need. Many respondents felt that a full understanding of unmet need within SRH would only come from involvement of relevant stakeholders in the process of investigating unmet need, and that qualitative methods may also have a role to play in gaining a more holistic understanding of unmet need within SRH. Conclusions Respondents within this study felt that unmet need is complex concept that has a significant impact on service delivery and the outcomes and experiences of the most vulnerable populations. We need to improve our understanding of unmet need and prioritise stakeholder voices if we want to create interventions that address unmet need within SRH.