Correlates of unintended childbearing: a comparative study of Nyanza and Central Provinces, Kenya
Abstract
There are significant regional variations in unintended childbearing in Kenya. This study sought to determine correlates associated with unintended childbearing in Nyanza and Central provinces of Kenya. The source of data for this study was the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, 2008/9 which was a nationally representative sample survey. Nyanza and Central province had 1109 and 496 live births respectively. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to establish the relationship between the selected independent variables and unintended childbearing in the two regions.
The independent variables included mother's age, number of living children, preceding birth interval, level of education, wealth index, religion, marital status, type of place of residence and ever used of contraceptive method. The study findings from multivariate analysis showed that level of education, contraceptive use, wealth index, marital status and number of living children significantly influenced the likelihood of unintended childbearing in Nyanza province while in Central province maternal age, wealth index, marital status and number of living children are significant. Policymakers, program planners and health service providers can benefit from findings of this study to formulate suitable programmes in the two regions
Publisher
University of Nairobi, Kenya