Perceived Partners’ Desire for More Children and Modern Contraceptive Use among Married Women in Uganda
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Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Makerere University
Abstract
Globally, fertility levels have been gradually reducing and the current average fertility estimates present 1.7 births in developed countries, 4.1 in less developed countries and 4.8 in sub-Saharan Africa (UnitedNations 2011). Projections show that if Africa, fertility rates remain the same over the forth coming decades, the continent’s rapidly growing population is bound to reach 3 billion by 2050 and about 15 million by 2100 (Chamie 2011) . While rates are seemingly reducing, Uganda is one of the countries in Africa grappling with high fertility levels of over 6.2 children born per woman and a population growth rate of over 3.2 percent per annum (UBOS 2007; UBOS 2012). The country’s young age structure is attributed mainly to the persistent high fertility levels for the past decades and low contraceptive use. Universally an overwhelming 215 women in developing countries who would want to use contraceptives if availed to them however they lack access. Many women would want to use contraception to delay or limit births however they are not using anything as required. This exposes them to risk of having unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. It is no wonder that many women continue to die due to pregnancy related complications some of which could be averted with the use of contraception. Research has shown that in addition to development in socioeconomic status (Bongaarts, et al. 1984), contraceptive use had direct effects on fertility reductions in any given society(Ainsworth, et al. 1996; Caldwell and Caldwell 1990). Furthermore fertility scholars including Easterlin (1975), Cleland (2001) and Mason et al (2001), proposed other determinants that would help in the reduction of birth rates which include; improved child survival, increased education levels of mothers and rural-urban development (Ainsworth, et al. 1996; Bongaarts, et al. 1984; Collier and Gunning 1999). Though presented with an increment from a rate of 26 in 2006 to 30 in 2011 the current contraceptive prevalence based on the demographic health survey is still very low among married in Uganda UBOS & MACRO INT. (2012) , (Caldwell and Caldwell 2002; Collier and Gunning 1999). Given the different interventions in Uganda towards improvement and provision access to contraceptives and other methods of family planning, usage is still very low(Ntozi and
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Kabera 1991; UBOS 2012) . This paper therefore seeks to show the influence of perceived partner’s desire for more children and it is on current contraceptive use among married women in Uganda.
Description
Keywords
Partners’ Desire, Children, Modern Contraceptive Use, Married Women, Uganda
Citation
Kabagenyi, A., Nankinga, O., & Rutaremwa, G. Perceived Partners' Desire for More Children and Modern Contraceptive Use among Married Women in Uganda.