Determinants of high fertility among women in Uganda

Abstract

Uganda has one of the highest fertility rates in the world. This study examined the determinants of high fertility among women in Uganda. The study was based on secondary data from the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey. The data was analyzed using stata 15 and presented at three levels; univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis. In order to identify the determinants of high fertility in Uganda, different hypotheses were tested. Study results indicated that more than a half of the respondents had given birth to 5 or more children. Almost a quarter of the respondents were in the age group of 20-24 and 25-29, more than a half of the respondents were married, a quarter of respondents claimed that they both wanted more children, a half of the respondents resided in the rural areas, a half of the respondents had attained primary education, almost a half of the respondents were rich, majority of the respondents were currently working and a half of the respondents were not using contraceptives. There existed a significant statistical association between age of the respondent, marital status, place of residence, wealth index, husband`s desire for more children, education, employment status, media accessibility and contraceptive use with number of living children born among women. Therefore, the researcher recommends that women empowerment programs should be established in the country in order to improve on the income status of the women in the society and policies against early marriages should be implemented in the country as young girls are highly exposed to high fertility