Accessibility and contraceptive use in Kenya.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how availability and accessibility of contraceptive services relate to contraceptive use in Kenya; and also how this use is determined by socio economic and demographic factors_ This objective is based on the observation that although Family Planning Programme has been operational in Kenya for more than two decades, the level of contraceptive use is still very low_ In an effort to determine the factors responsible for this situation, the study has attempted to analyse the problem by looking at the relationship between contraceptive use and availability and accessibility of contraceptive services and supplies, socio economic and demographic characteristics of the women covered in the survey_ From the analysis of the above relationship, the study found out that education was the major indicator of the socio economic characteristics, while age of the mother was the major indicator among the demographic characteristics_ The study also found out that contraceptive use is more in urban areas compared to rural areas_ It also observed that Central Province leads, in contraceptive use, while Coast Province has the least use of modern contraceptives_ Finally the study found out that contraceptive use decreases with increase in travel time to the sources of modern contraceptives_ Thus in an effort to raise the level of contraceptive use in Kenya, this study has made the following recommendations (i) Population education should be more focussed in the rural areas, especially towards the rigid traditional practices that tend to discourage ~he use of modern contraceptives_ -. (ii) The government should raise the educational standards of the women in general, but in particular the areas with low contraceptive use in Kenya_ (Ui) Contraceptive use, should be encouraged especially among the exposed group aged 15-19 years_ This is simply because this age group has a longer reproductive period compared to other age groups mentioned in this study_