Assessment of the Factors Influencing Fertility Rates among Women in Uganda: A Case Study of Kabale District, Kigezi Region
Abstract
The main objective of this study is to assess the factors influencing fertility rates in Kabale
District. The study applied a non-experimental design called descriptive survey research design.
The study population comprised of both male and female individuals who are above the age of
18 in Kabale District, Kigezi region. A sample of 100 respondents was calculated basing on
survey sampling. Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was used to select respondents from
Kabale District which constituted a strata. The sub counties, villages and households were
randomly selected. In each sub-county, one village was selected with a total of five villages
being randomly selected. The five villages therefore provided a total sample size of 20
respondents per village and hence 100 respondents across the District. Data was analyzed at
univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels using SPSS (version 16).
Study results show that the majority of respondents were females (55%), while the rest were
males (45%). Study results the majority of the individuals who took part in this study were
married (71%) and other respondents were single (12%) and divorced (17%). Study results show
that most of the respondents had attained tertiary education (30%). Study results that the majority
of the respondents that took part in the study were Anglicans (42%). The results of the study
show that the most of the respondents were between 30- 50 years (39%). Chi-square results
showed that there is a significant relationship between age, religion and fertility rates (number of
children), of women in Kabale District at 5% significance level. Chi-square results also showed
that the p-value of education level is 0.01 which is less than 0.05. The study results also showed
that the most frequent causes of high fertility is the economic factors (38%). However, there are
also other factors and these include; education level (15%), contraceptive use (15%), religion
(12%), immigration (9%), postponement of marriage age (4%), women in labor force (6%) and
abortions (1%). The study recommends, that the government of Uganda should encourage should
women to acquire high level education since reduces their chances of having many children.