Fertility in Kenya based on birth interval analysis

Abstract

The objectives of this study were three fold. First, to estimate duration of breastfeeding and postpartum amenorrhea using life table and current status method. Second, to estimate live birth interval by applying the current status method and prevalence incidence ratio at the same time. Third. to evaluate the effect of some socioeconomic, cultural and demographic variables on breastfeeding, postpartum amenorrhea and live birth interval. Using data drawn from the 1984 Kenya Contraceptive Prevalence Survey Duration of breastfeeding and postpartum amenorrhea by various variables have been estimated at national level in Kenya by applying the current status and life table methods. Live birth interval has also been estimated at national level by applying the current status method and prevalence incidence ratio simultaneously. The variables that are used at the national level are: woman's educational level, woman's work status, type of marital union, contraceptive use, ethnicity religion, age and place of residence of the woman. A statistical multiple regression analysis has been used to evaluate the effect of each variable on breastfeeding parity is included. The results on duration of breastfeedinq and postpartum amenorrhea show that difference between regions still persist. Duration of breastfeeding range as low as 15.9 months for the Luo to as long as 19.7 months . On the other hand duration of postpartum amenorrhea range as low as 10 months for the Luo to as long as 12.2 months for the Kalenjin. On averaqe duration of breastfeeding and postpartum amenorrhea in Kenya was found to be 18 and 11.3 months respectively. Difference in live birth interval and marital fertility rate. Live birth interval ranqe from as low as 35 months with the Kalenjin to as long as 41 months with the Mijikenda. Marital fertility range as low as 267 per 1000 for Kisii to as high as 344 per 1000 for the Kalenjin. The multivariate reqression results show that some socio - economic, cultural and demographic variables can only explain 4% of variation in breastfeeding leaving 96% unexplained. Age and no religion were found to be significant at 0.05 level.