The Star ­ Friday
Date: 15.01.2016
Page 8
Article size: 47 cm2
ColumnCM: 10.44
AVE: 18382.22
Fertility rate
in Kenya on
the decline
BY RAMADHAN RAJAB
KENYA'S birth rates have
fallen in the past five years,
a new survey shows.
The 2014 Kenya Demo­
graphic and Health Survey
released yesterday shows
Kenyan women have an
average of 3.9 births,
marking a decline from the
total fertility rate of 4.6
recorded in the 2008­09
survey.
The findings show
women in urban areas have
1.5 less children, compared
to their rural counterparts,
with dramatic variations
among counties.
"Fertility decreases by
education. Women with no
education have an aver­
age of 6.5 children, while
women with secondary or
higher education have an
average of 3.0 children,"
the survey says.
It says women from poor
households have an aver­
age of 6.4 births, compared
with their counterparts
from wealthy households,
who only have 2.8 births.
Wajir county recorded
the highest fertility rate
during the time under
study at 7.8.
It was followed by West
Pokot at 7.2, Turkana at
6.9 and Samburu at 6.3.
The report attributes
the decline to the use of
contraceptives.
A total of 31,079 women
aged 15­39 and 12,819
men aged between 15­54 in
selected households across
the country were sampled
in the survey conducted
between May and October
2014.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya