Factors Influencing Age at First Birth in Coast Province

Abstract

This study sought to establish factors that influence the age at first birth in coast province. Specifically it sought to determine the effect of some socio-economic, socio-cultural and demographic factors on the age at first birth in Coast province. Using data from the 2008/2009 KDHS, a total of 1149 women from Coast province were used as a unit of analysis and their demographic, socio-economic, socio-cultural characteristics. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to establish the relationship between selected independent variables and age at first birth. The independent variables were women's age, level of education, type of place of residence, religion, marital status and the intervening variable was ever use of contraceptive while the dependent variable is the age at first birth. The study findings showed that the level of education, women's age, the type of place of residence and contraceptive use significantly influenced the age at first birth. For example women with at least secondary education were associated with a lower risk of a first birth also women who lived in rural areas at the time of the survey had a higher risk of birth compared to their counterparts from urban areas. Significant variations in the age at first birth across the women's cohorts were also evident. The delayed effect of education on first birth is higher among those women in the older cohorts compared to those in the younger cohort. The high likelihood of age at first birth among women who were using contraceptives indicates the need for improving family planning services in the region to avoid failure and discontinuation. Religion and marital status failed to show significance influence the occurrence a first birth. Findings of the study are of policy appeal especially in policies geared towards delaying the age at first birth for women in Coast province. The findings of the study suggest that the age at first birth is an important issue in Coast province and it has an association with demographic and socioeconomic aspects. This study is expected to be used by policy makers in family planning programs to recognize the issue of early childbearing among teenagers in the region. It is essential to identify the determinants of age at first birth to facilitate policy makers and program managers to design programs and services especially for women who have the highest likelihood--of having a first birth at a younger age