Determinants of Family Size Preferences in an Urban Population:a Case Study of Mathare Valley-4b in Nairobi

Abstract

This study aims at establishing the demographic, socioeconomic and cultural determinants of family size preferences in an urban population. It further aims at providing recommendations to policy makers and for further research into related issues. The data used is basically primary and was obtained from a field survey which interviewed 403 currently married women residents of Mathare Valley - 4B. The study applied X2 - test and multiple regresslon as techniques of statistical analysis. The major findings were that:- - On applying X2 - test, desire for more children, region of origin, number of living children, length of residence, educational level, number of sons still alive ethnic group, occupation and current age are found to be related to desired family size, at the 5% level of significance. But the independent variable religious affiliation is not statistically significant at the same level of significance. On applying multiple regression, desire for more children (yes and undecided); Number of living children (4 - 6 & 7 - 9) are found to )lave a posi tive influence on desired family size. While length of residence (over 6 years); Region of o~igin (others) and number of living sons (0 - 3) are found to have a negative influence on desired family size. However the variables occupation, current age and ethnic group are found to be statistically iii insignificant at 0.05 level. All the independent variables considered in the regression analysis explained about 41% of the variation in desired family size. The study recommends that policy makers should emphasize on relevant policies that aim at altering the traditional socio-cultural structure through promoting female education and spreading population education information so as to encourage desirable fertility norms and related attitudes .