Fertility and contraceptive use in Meru district

Abstract

The study Fertility and Contraceptive use in Meru District estimate fertility levels in Meru district, examines fertility differentials within Meru district and examines contraceptive differentials within the district. The methods used by KDHS to collect the data for the survey was based on the National Sample survey and education Programme (NASSEP) master sample which is a two-stage design, stratified by urban-rural residence. The method of analysis used by the author was the P/F Ratio method and cross-classification method to analyse the data collected for Meru district from the KDHS survey of 1989. y • The study found out that the district TFR' was 5.2 per woman and the age specific fertility rate recorded for the district was much lower than those for the entire nation .. Contraceptive use was low and the pill the most popular. Education influences contraceptive use with women with no formal education constituting very few who use modern methods, contraceptive use among the married is very high (82%) in Meru and this accounts for the fall in fertility in the district. Working women have smaller families compared to non- 'working women. The study recommellds an intensification of Family Planning education to increase contraceptive use especially among women with I j viii no formal education. The study calls for female labour absorbing services and industries to increase proportion of working women in the district and recommends the government to make complete primary education compulsory for girls and encouragement of secondary and higher education for girls in order to postpone early marriages and reduce demand for large families