Fertility and contraceptive use in Meru district
Abstract
The study Fertility and Contraceptive use in Meru District estimate
fertility levels in Meru district, examines fertility differentials
within Meru district and examines contraceptive differentials
within the district.
The methods used by KDHS to collect the data for the survey was
based on the National Sample survey and education Programme
(NASSEP) master sample which is a two-stage design, stratified by
urban-rural residence. The method of analysis used by the author
was the P/F Ratio method and cross-classification method to analyse
the data collected for Meru district from the KDHS survey of 1989.
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The study found out that the district TFR' was 5.2 per woman and the
age specific fertility rate recorded for the district was much
lower than those for the entire nation .. Contraceptive use was low
and the pill the most popular. Education influences contraceptive
use with women with no formal education constituting very few who
use modern methods, contraceptive use among the married is very
high (82%) in Meru and this accounts for the fall in fertility in
the district. Working women have smaller families compared to non-
'working women.
The study recommellds an intensification of Family Planning
education to increase contraceptive use especially among women with
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no formal education. The study calls for female labour absorbing
services and industries to increase proportion of working women in
the district and recommends the government to make complete primary
education compulsory for girls and encouragement of secondary and
higher education for girls in order to postpone early marriages and
reduce demand for large families
Sponsorhip
The University of NairobiPublisher
Population studies and research institute ( PSRI)