Determinants of fertility preference among married couples in Northern Uganda

Abstract

Fertility preferences are potentially important in shaping the fertility of the society as future fertility behaviour will most likely be affected by the currently observed fertility preferences. Information on fertility preference in Uganda especially regarding married Couples is limited. This study aimed at establishing the determinants of fertility preferences among married couples in Northern Uganda. Data was analyzed at univariate, bivariate and Multivariate level of analysis. The study revealed that women’s age and husband’s desire for more children showed a significant positive relationship. The study also found out that number of living children showed a significant relationship with husband’s desire to have more children. The study showed that husband’s education and husband’s desire for more children had a negative significant relationship. The study therefore recommended that Education for men should be emphasized because education was discovered to have a significant negative effect on the fertility preference; Policies that aim at integrating population into development should be encouraged so as to foster socio-economic development in all the regions of Uganda and hence minimize the regional disparities as it relates to fertility preferences; Further studies, both qualitative and quantitative, to be carried out in order to explore the socio-cultural religious beliefs, norms and attitudes of men in regards to the value of children; Qualitative studies needs to be conducted in the region to find out the driving forces for glaringly high fertility preference other than low literacy level.