The effects of economic enterprises on fertility behaviour:

Abstract

This study examines the effects of selected economic enterprises on selected fertility behaviour variables among the Gusii community of western Kenya. Its basic objective is to determine whether different economic practices in the study area give rise to different fertility behaviour.

The selected economic enterprises covered interviews carried out on individuals in the formal and informal sectors. The formal sector concentrated on skilled health workers, agriculturalists and trained teaching staff, while the informal sector's interviews were focused on a wide range of people in the Jua Kali field.

In both sections, the selected fertility behaviour variables were age at first marriage, type of marriage, state of marriage, sex

preference, ideal family size, towards family planning.

".. "I chl~dr~n ever born and attitudes ., ~

It was hypothesized 'that there would be no significant differences in the selected fertility behaviour variables within and between the practitioners of the selected economic enterprises both individually and on a spatial dimension.

The research utilised both primary and secondary data. A sample size of 500 frilltime married people were systematically and then .randomly interviewed. Both one-way and two-way analysis of

variance statistic was used to test the magnitude of association and or variation in age at first marriage and children ever born within and between the practitioners of the selected activities both individually and also on a spatial dimension.

Trend surface analysis statistic was used to reveal the spatial distribution of the study area I s population. A number of qualitative techniques were also employed to compare and contrast the various fertility behaviour variables within and between the practitioners.

Through the trend surface analysis, it was revealed that the study area has a relatively uniform population distribution. Some fertility behaviour variables were found to be similar within and between the various pr-actLtLonars e.g. sex preference, while they differed in others e.g. age at first marriage,

children ever born etc.

'.... ... ..

Economic independence was singled out a~e major factor behind

early marriages and consequently leading to more children ever born. Duration spent ~.atschool had a significant effect on family size too. It was found out that the longer one stayed in school, the smaller the family size and vice versa.

Strong attachment to traditional values proved to be a major factor behind the similarities within and between some of the fertility behaviour variables among the various practitioners e.g. sex preference.

It is concluded that various factors co-act to give rise to an individual's fertility behaviour. These factors can be either social, economic, physical or biological. However, in this study, social and economic factors were singled out as having an upper hand in determining the fertility behaviour of the sampled individuals.

- Finally, it is recommended that for any significant changes in

fertility trends among the various practitioners to be achieved, universal education will be vital.