| dc.description.abstract | This thesis was set to present estimates of some indices of
reproductive behaviour of women in Kenya at regional level from
information derived from 1969 and 1979 censuses. The indices
estimated are mean age at birth of first child, mean age at birth
of last child, mean length of time between birth of first child
and last child and the mean inter-birth spacing.
Two methods have been applied to obtain these estimates
namely: Suchindran-Horne (1984) and Sivamurthy (1987) methods.
Suchindran-Horne method uses the age specific fertility rates as
the main input data. Sivamurthy's method uses the life table
approach to derive the indices on assumption that the age
specific fertility rates act as the unconditional probabilities
of birth rates with the respective ages. The data required in
this case are the schedules of the age specific fertility rates.
In the application of these methods, the indices so obtained are
synthetic and refer only to the hypothetical cohorts w ho
experience the schedule of the age specific fertility rates.
In chapter two the derivation and computational procedure IS
presented. The results of the application are presented in
chapter three and in chapter four we have the summarv conclusion
and recommendations.
From the results of the analysis it is observed that mean
age first birth at national level was around 19 years in 1969 and
1979 while the mean age at last birth was around 41 years
resulting into a mean length of time between first and last birth
of .justoyer 21 years and a mean inter birth spacing;of about 33
months. At regional (district) leyel mean age is found to cluster
between 19 to 20 years in both periods. Most, of the observed
changes in the indices over the period is in Rift Valley and
Coast Provinces. Substantial variations in the indices was
observed when level of education was considered than residence.
Although in all the regions considered urban fertility was lower
than rural there was no much variation in mean age at first
birth. | en |
