OBJECTIVE:
This study examines how women’s empowerment and life stage intersect to influence the demand for family planning satisfied (DFPS) and the specific mix of contraceptive methods used across 28 sub-Saharan African countries.

METHODS:
Using Demographic and Health Survey data (2015–2022), we analyzed 138,374 married women, stratifying results by age (15–19, 20–34, 35–49) and three domains of the survey-based women’s empowerment index (SWPER): social independence, decision-making, and attitude to violence .

RESULTS:
High empowerment across all domains correlated with higher DFPS. While injectables and implants dominate the regional method mix, their shares significantly declined as empowerment increased—particularly in the social independence domain . Highly empowered women utilized a more diversified range of

METHODS:
adolescents and young women (under 35) showed increased use of condoms, pills, and fertility-awareness-based methods, while women over 34 relied more on IUDs and sterilization. These trends suggest that empowered women prioritize personal control, autonomy, and the avoidance of side effects over the provider-favored, long-acting methods often promoted by high-volume family planning programs . Conclusion & Implications: Contraceptive needs are not uniform; they evolve with age and are shaped by a woman’s agency. To uphold reproductive rights, family planning services must move beyond narrow "uptake" targets focused on a few easily administered methods. Programs must ensure a wide, diverse contraceptive basket and high-quality counseling that supports informed, free choice . By addressing empowerment-related barriers and catering to specific age-related preferences, policies can better support contraceptive autonomy and ensure that services truly meet the diverse reproductive goals of all women.