Impact of female education on the fertility rates of women of reproductive age in Eastern Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors influencing age at first sex in Eastern Uganda. The specific objectives; 1) to determine the impact of level of education acquired by a woman on decision to get pregnant 2) to determine the impact of level of education on child survival and 3) to determine other factors apart from education that affect the fertility rate of women. The study used secondary data from UDHS 2016. The study applied quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. The sample size comprised of a total of 5322women aged 15-49. The study found out that; female education has an important role it plays in the fertility rate, level of education has no significant impact on the survival or death of the child, Sex of the household head influences fertility, literacy has a significant statistical relationship on the fertility rate of women and religion has nothing to do with the fertility rate. The study concluded that female education has a significant impact on fertility rate. The study therefore recommended that; further studies should be done to identify which education level is related to increase in fertility rate and which education level is related to decreased fertility rate and finally further studies should be done to know which of the woman or man head increases or reduces fertility rate.