Fertility Preferences and Level of Family Planning in Rwanda : Case of Huye District

peer reviewedThe eradication of poverty and hunger is the first of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) established by the United ations. One of the Rwanda’s commitments is the fulfillment of this goal as indicated in its own long term Vision 2020 aimed at enabling Rwandans to emerge from under-development and poverty status by achieving economic growth objectives in combination with social indicators objectives. As it has been researched that the major cause of poverty in developing countries is the high rate of their population growth, this paper is aimed at assessing the fertility preferences and the level of family planning in Rwanda as a tool to poverty eradication. The paper also presents some challenges and some other pathways to improve the socioeconomic welfare of Rwandan population. In this paper descriptive methods have been used to present and analyze data and a Pearson Chi square test has been used to study the association between variables. The results shows that the knowledge of contraception is universal (99%) but the use of contraception methods for family planning is still very low (37%). On the average fertility preferences are 3.2 children which are good if realized. The general conclusion that emerges from the study is that in order to reduce poverty, family planning is a must but lot more are to be done. Among other things, a focus on increasing rural income and agriculture output

Assessing predictors of delayed antenatal care visits in Rwanda: a secondary analysis of Rwanda demographic and health survey 2010

Background: Early initiation of antenatal care (ANC) can reduce common maternal complications and maternal and perinatal mortality. Though Rwanda demonstrated a remarkable decline in maternal mortality and 98% of Rwandan women receive antenatal care from a skilled provider, only 38% of women have an ANC visit in their first three months of pregnancy. This study assessed factors associated with delayed ANC in Rwanda. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using data collected during the 2010 Rwanda DHS from 6,325 women age 15–49 that had at least one birth in the last five years. Factors associated with delayed ANC were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model using manual backward stepwise regression. Analysis was conducted in Stata v12 applying survey commands to account for the complex sample design. Results: Several factors were significantly associated with delayed ANC including having many children (4–6 children, OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.22, 1.65; or more than six children, OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.99); feeling that distance to health facility is a problem (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.38); and unwanted pregnancy (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.58). The following were protective against delayed ANC: having an ANC at a private hospital or clinic (OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.56); being married (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75, 0.96), and having public mutuelle health insurance (OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.92) or another type of insurance (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.46). Conclusion: This analysis revealed potential barriers to ANC service utilization. Distance to health facility remains a major constraint which suggests a great need of infrastructure and decentralization of maternal ANC to health posts and dispensaries. Interventions such as universal health insurance coverage, family planning, and community maternal health system are underway and could be part of effective strategies to address delays in ANC

Assessing predictors of delayed antenatal care visits in Rwanda: a secondary analysis of Rwanda demographic and health survey 2010

Background: Early initiation of antenatal care (ANC) can reduce common maternal complications and maternal and perinatal mortality. Though Rwanda demonstrated a remarkable decline in maternal mortality and 98% of Rwandan women receive antenatal care from a skilled provider, only 38% of women have an ANC visit in their first three months of pregnancy. This study assessed factors associated with delayed ANC in Rwanda. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using data collected during the 2010 Rwanda DHS from 6,325 women age 15–49 that had at least one birth in the last five years. Factors associated with delayed ANC were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model using manual backward stepwise regression. Analysis was conducted in Stata v12 applying survey commands to account for the complex sample design. Results: Several factors were significantly associated with delayed ANC including having many children (4–6 children, OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.22, 1.65; or more than six children, OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.99); feeling that distance to health facility is a problem (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.38); and unwanted pregnancy (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.58). The following were protective against delayed ANC: having an ANC at a private hospital or clinic (OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.56); being married (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75, 0.96), and having public mutuelle health insurance (OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.92) or another type of insurance (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.46). Conclusion: This analysis revealed potential barriers to ANC service utilization. Distance to health facility remains a major constraint which suggests a great need of infrastructure and decentralization of maternal ANC to health posts and dispensaries. Interventions such as universal health insurance coverage, family planning, and community maternal health system are underway and could be part of effective strategies to address delays in ANC

A study of institutional environment and household food security at local level in Rwanda

The study looked into the current scenario of food security in Rwanda. After analysing the national level institutional and food security scenarios by using available secondary data, the researchers used primary data that have been collected from a random sample of 200 households spreading over six sectors of the Huye district by using structured interview schedule, as well using a case study of a rice cooperative in Huye district. Focus group discussions with all stake holders concerned with food security at local level enriched the data that we collected by other means. The general conclusion that emerges from the study is that in order to attain the food security at local level in Rwanda lot more to be done. Among other things, strengthening existing local institutions like farmer cooperatives, improving agricultural production technology, diversifying household income sources for better access, and genuine integration of food security concerns in the district development plans. The researchers come out with certain policy recommendations that may make the local level food security more sustainable which includes, among others, the orientation of the households well into the new modes of agricultural production and planning of household income. The need for much more local level institutional support in many areas is highlighted. On the whole, the study addressed the concerns of food access among rural households in Rwanda, and also the much wanted institutional support being exposed