| dc.description.abstract | Population, a resource and consumptive factor,
becomes a problem when the latter aspect dominates. It
is because of this feeling in many developing countries,
including Kenya, that the high population growth rates
have become the most disturbing problem to the development
planners. The problem shows itself in low activity
and participation rates.
The causes of the high population growth in Kenya
aremostly assumed since little research.work has been
undertaken. In particular, projections have always relied
on crude extrapolation.
This study aims at furthering in someway our .
understanding of the economic factors influencing fertility
and therefore population growth rates. Econometric methods
are applied to cross-sectional data from 229 rural households.
The data were obtained from fieldwork undertaken ln
August and September 1979 in Muruka location of Muranga
district in Kenya.
The main conclusion arrived at is that there are
important demographic and economic factors that may help
to explain fertility behaviour in Kenya. These factors
fall into two categories. There are those variables which
could be manipulated to reduce fertility. Some of these
are female education and employment and child and infant
mortality. . The others like land and incomes will tend
to increase fertility at least for the next few years.
(vi)
Finally, a more equitable distribution of incomes seems
to be necessary.
The study would~ probably, have been more forceful
if time series data were available to be used as
well. | en |
