Determinants of fertility preferences among young married men in Gatanga Sub-County, Muranga County

Abstract

This was a cross-sectional study with the main objective of investigating the determinants of fertility preferences among married young men in Gatanga Sub-County, Muranga County. The specific objectives of this study were designed to: identify the socio-economic factors that determine fertility preferences and establish the socio-cultural factors that determine fertility preferences among married young men in Gatanga Sub-County. The population for this study was married young men residing in Kiriara Wards in Gatanga Sub-County aged between 24 and 35 years and the unit of analysis was the individual married man. Qualitative approach was used in collecting and analyzing data while Value of Children and Social Cognitive Theories guided the inquiry. The 22 respondents for the in-depth interviews as well as the key informants were selected through purposive sampling. Qualitative data collected were coded and analyzed thematically in line with the study objectives and verbatim quotes used to project the voices of the participants. The study findings indicate that determinants of fertility preferences among married men is influenced by many socio-economic and socio-cultural factors including education, occupation, religiosity, value of children, place of residence, number of living children and preference for a male child. The study concludes that fertility preference of married men is largely influenced by socio-economic and socio-cultural factors in that highly religious affiliations, low educational levels and positive attitude towards the value of children leads to high fertility in the study area. In terms of recommendations, Muranga County Government should localize its family planning programmes to speak to the needs of men, both young and old, focusing on aforementioned factors. Further, the Kenyan government through its departments and line ministries concerned with population control should take measures that deliberately target men in all age brackets to document their preferences in fertility and how it contributes to the current fertility trends in the country. The study makes suggestion for further study looking specifically at the factors which influence the preference for sons which manifested in this study as an issue of deep-seated significance that results in high population in the county. Keywords: Determinants, fertility preferences, influence, factors, socio-economic, socio-cultural, married men and Kenya.