| dc.description.abstract | Fertility preference is defined as desired family size, ideal number of children, and desire for
additional children or fertility intentions. The measurements have been used to describe
and/or estimate the number of children that people actually want to have. Fertility
preferences are the indicators of general attitudes and possible future course of fertility. Also
family planning approval is strongly dependent on fertility preferences. Measuring fertility
intentions, and determining the extent to which they predict fertility behavior, is important
for population policy and the implementation of family planning programs. Despite the
various strategies and policies, Kenya’s total fertility rate still remains high at 4.6 while
contraceptive prevalence rate is limited at 46 percent. The main objective of this study is to
determine factors associated with fertility preference in Kenya. The dependent variable of
this study is preferred waiting time to the next birth. The study utilized secondary data from
the Kenya demographic health survey 2008-09 with a study population of 4236 currently
married women of child bearing age (15-49). Descriptive statistics indicated that majority of
the married women, preferred short birth intervals. Cross tabulation analysis found that
preferred waiting time to the next birth is significantly associated with educational
attainment, current working status, region, religion, current use of any contraceptive method,
age group, number of living children and sex composition. Logistic regression results
indicated that education, ethnicity, current use of any contraceptive method, age group and
number of living children predict preferred birth interval. In conclusion this study found that
education, ethnicity, current use of any contraceptive method, age group and number of
living children have a significant impact on fertility intentions. From the study results it is
evident that majority of the women prefer short birth intervals which highly contributes to
large family sizes resulting to high fertility in Kenya. It is therefore recommended that
concerted efforts be employed with regard to family planning programs targeting ethnic
groups such as Kalenjins, Maasai and Somalis. Campaigns emphasizing on longer birth
intervals should be popularized in Kenya. Further qualitative and quantitative research should
be conducted to explore the social cultural and religious beliefs norms and attitudes of
currently married women in Kenya with regard to family planning and preferred birth
intervals. Additionally men’s status and approval of family planning and preferred birth
intervals should also be researched further. | en_US |
