Trends in Contraceptive Use in Kenya, 1989-1998: The Role of Socio-economic, Cultural and Family Planning Factors

This paper uses the 1989 and 1998 KDHS data sets to examine the role of socioeconomic, cultural and family planning factors in explaining the observed increase in contraceptive use in Kenya during the 1989-1998 period. The key finding of the study is that the increase in the use of modern methods of contraception during this period was not due to the socio-economic changes or the improved family planning environment which occurred during the period, but was rather due to the increased use of contraceptives among those who approved family planning and those who had not experienced an infant/child death. The main conclusion drawn from these findings is that studies focusing on explaining the trends in contraceptive use should take into account the changing patterns of association between the various factors on one hand and contraceptive use on the other

Regional variations in contraceptive use in Kenya: comparison of Nyanza, Coast and Central Provinces

This paper analyses the regional variations in contraceptive use between Central, Nyanza and Coast Provinces in Kenya among currently married, fecund women drawn from the 2008-09 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) data. Specifically the study examined the role of socio-economic, cultural and demographic factors in explaining these variations using both bivariate and logistic regression. The analysis confirmed the higher use of contraception in Central compared to Nyanza and Coast. Current use of modern contraceptive methods in Central is 70 percent compared with 39 percent and 37 percent for Nyanza and Coast respectively. The higher contraceptive use in Central is attributed to the better socio-economic and cultural environment compared with the other two provinces. Central Province has very few cases of women with no education, a much lower percentage in the poorest wealth (9.6) category and the highest proportionin monogamous unions (97.1). The higher socio-economic status and better cultural environment has in turn created a favourable environment for the use of contraception through the intervening variables of knowledge on family planning and fertility preferences. The logistic regression results suggest that differences in contraceptive use between the three provinces could be narrowed by increasing the level of education in Coast and overcoming traditional practices such as polygyny in both Nyanza and Coast. Although mortality is still important, its effect has declined. However, the unexpected finding that contraceptive use is higher in rural areas of Central and Nyanza Provinces suggests further research to understand what could be responsible for the reversal

Effect of mother’s migration on under-two mortality in Kenya

This study examines the effect of mothers’ migration status controlling for other proximate factors (socio-economic, environmental and bio-demographic characteristics) on under two mortality in Kenya. Data used were drawn from 2003 Kenya Demographic Health Survey with focus on infants and children below two years in age. A total of 5949 infants and children born five years before the survey are used in the analysis. Cox proportional hazard model is used to assess the relative effect of the migration status (migrant or non-migrant) of the mother on survival rates controlling for other explanatory variables. The general results shows that children of migrant mothers especially those of urban-rural migrants face a higher mortality risk compared to those of non-migrant mothers. The results show that failure to account for migration may alter the estimation of urban-rural differentials in childhood mortality

School as a workplace in Kenya: Evaluation of the Teachers Matter HIV/AIDS project

The Horizons program of the Population Council embarked on an operations research initiative in Kenya to test the feasibility of implementing a teacher-centered workplace program based in schools. The study was conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Kenya Institute of Education, the Teachers Service Commission, and UNICEF. Called Teachers Matter, the project’s main audience was primary and secondary school teachers. The purpose of the research was to assess whether such a program would improve teachers’ HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; increase the proportion of teachers seeking voluntary testing and counseling; and enhance their ability to cope with HIV-related issues in the workplace. The results suggest that a teacher-centered peer education program can be successful in increasing an overall level of openness and comfort surrounding HIV issues in the school setting

Trends in Contraceptive Use in Kenya, 1989-1998: The Role of Socio-Economic, Cultural and Family Planning Factors

This paper uses the 1989 and 1998 KDHS data sets to examine the role of socio-economic, cultural and family planning factors in explaining the observed increase in contraceptive use in Kenya during the 1989-1998 period. The key finding of the study is that the increase in the use of modern methods of contraception during this period was not due to the socio-economic changes or the improved family planning environment which occurred during the period, but was rather due to the increased use of contraceptives among those who approved family planning and those who had not experienced an infant/child death. The main conclusion drawn from these findings is that studies focusing on explaining the trends in contraceptive use should take into account the changing patterns of association between the various factors on one hand and contraceptive use on the other

Levels and Differentials of Infant and Child Mortality Rates in Malakal in Upper Nile State, South Sudan

This study aimed to establish the levels and differentials of infant and child mortality in Malakal, using primary data from a random sample of 1317 women aged (15-49 years). The results of Chi-square test show that mother education, mother employment, family income, parity, birth order, preceding birth interval, drinking water source, type of toilet facility, type of the floor, place of delivery and breastfeeding duration were significantly associated with infant and child mortality. Age of the mother and cooking fuel source were significantly associated with child mortality. The results of direct method of estimation show that  the levels of infant and child mortality were higher among infants and children for mothers with no education, infants and children in households with low income, infants and children for mothers aged 30+, infants and children of first birth order, infants and children of preceding birth interval ˂ 24 months, male infants and children, infants and children in households used nonimproved water, infants and children in households used non-improved toilet facility, infants and children in households withnatural floor, infants and children delivered at home and infants and children breastfed ˂ 6 months. Also, the levels of infant mortality were higher among infants for employed mothers; infants of parity 6+. Furthermore, the levels of child mortality were higher among children for unemployed mothers; children of parity 1-3 and children in households used high polluting fuel. The study recommends for improve accessibility to health services to reduce infant and child mortality rates to reasonable levels

Effect of mother’s migration on under-two mortality in Kenya

This study examines the effect of mothers’ migration status controlling for other proximate factors (socio-economic, environmental and bio-demographic characteristics) on under two mortality in Kenya. Data used were drawn from 2003 Kenya Demographic Health Survey with focus on infants and children below two years in age. A total of 5949 infants and children born five years before the survey are used in the analysis. Cox proportional hazard model is used to assess the relative effect of the migration status (migrant or non-migrant) of the mother on survival rates controlling for other explanatory variables. The general results shows that children of migrant mothers especially those of urban-rural migrants face a higher mortality risk compared to those of non-migrant mothers. The results show that failure to account for migration may alter the estimation of urban-rural differentials in childhood mortality