Fertility preference among men in Kenya

Abstract

This study alms to investigate the socio-economic, socio-cultural and demographic factors that influence family size preference among men in Kenya. This study is basically concerned with the investigation of how selected socio-economic, cultural and demographic variables are independent predictors of desired family size. The study further aims to provide a set of recommendations for both policy makers and for further research into related issues. The data used is secondary data based on the KDHS of 1998 which was a national survey hence provide a better approximation of fertility preferences countrywide. The study utilized both bivariate and multivariate techniques in its quest to determine the significant predictors of fertility preference. Results of the bivariate analysis using cross tabulations and applying the chi- square test found out that level of education, place of residence, reg~on' 01 residence, type of marriage, ethnicity, Religion and current age to be significantly related to desired family size at the 5 per cent level of significance. Occupation was however found not to be " significant at the 5 per cent significance level. On applying the Multiple regression, the analysis it was found that the selected variables accounted for 28.8 per cent of the total variation in desired family size among currently ",- married men interviewed. The t-test for the individual coefficients (/3s) showed that, among the 8 selected variables, education, place of residence, ethnicity, region of x ! J residence, type of and marriage were the strong predictors affecting desired family size significantly. All the hypothesises were confirmed. socio-cultural factors and socio-economic factors had strong effects on desired family while demographic factors did not have a very strong effect on desired family size. The reason why socio-cultural factors had strong effects on desired family size might be explained by the tendency of Kenyan men to carryon with thcir cultural practices even with the current wave of modernization. This study recommends that relevant policy be put in place that aim at encouraging adaptive behavior where some traditional patterns of life are conserved