Accessibility and contraceptive use in Kenya.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine how availability and
accessibility of contraceptive services relate to contraceptive
use in Kenya; and also how this use is determined by socio
economic and demographic factors_
This objective is based on the observation that although Family
Planning Programme has been operational in Kenya for more than
two decades, the level of contraceptive use is still very low_
In an effort to determine the factors responsible for this
situation, the study has attempted to analyse the problem by
looking at the relationship between contraceptive use and
availability and accessibility of contraceptive services and
supplies, socio economic and demographic characteristics of the
women covered in the survey_
From the analysis of the above relationship, the study found out
that education was the major indicator of the socio economic
characteristics, while age of the mother was the major indicator
among the demographic characteristics_ The study also found out
that contraceptive use is more in urban areas compared to rural
areas_ It also observed that Central Province leads, in
contraceptive use, while Coast Province has the least use of
modern contraceptives_ Finally the study found out that
contraceptive use decreases with increase in travel time to the
sources of modern contraceptives_
Thus in an effort to raise the level of contraceptive use in
Kenya, this study has made the following recommendations
(i) Population education should be more focussed in the
rural areas, especially towards the rigid traditional
practices that tend to discourage ~he use of modern
contraceptives_ -.
(ii) The government should raise the educational standards
of the women in general, but in particular the areas
with low contraceptive use in Kenya_
(Ui) Contraceptive use, should be encouraged especially among
the exposed group aged 15-19 years_ This is simply
because this age group has a longer reproductive period
compared to other age groups mentioned in this study_
Citation
Submitted in part fulfilment for post graduate diploma in population studies at the population studies and research institute, University of NairobiPublisher
Department of Population Studies & Research Institute, University of Nairobi