The impact of age at first birth and age at first birth and age at first marriage on fertility in Kenya

Abstract

This study examines the impact of age at first birth and age at first marriage on fertility in Kenya, using the data drawn from Kenya Fertility Survey file. The mean ages at first birth and first marriage, total fertility rate based on women's ages at first birth and first marriage were estimated and fertility levels by various socio-economic and socio-cultural variables. Fertility levels have been estimated by applying~ the Coale Trussell P/F ratio method. A multivariate regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the selected variables and ages at first birth and first marriage which were considered as dependent variables. The findings on fertility indicates that ages at first birth and first marriage have a significant impact on fertility as there was a decline in fertility with the increasing ages at first birth and first marriage. It was also found that differences in fertility in Kenya between regions also still persist. Multivariate results show that. 51.5 per cent of the total variation in age at first birth was explained by age at first marriage and age at menarche. 91.3 per cent of the total variation in are at first marriage was found to be explained by work status, education, age at menarche, religion and place of residence.