Fertility Determinants and Differentials: The Cases of Kenya and Lesotho

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Periodical article

Title:	Fertility Determinants and Differentials: The Cases of Kenya and Lesotho
Author:	Mhloyi, Marvellous M.
Year:	1986
Periodical:	Zambezia
Volume:	13
Issue:	2
Pages:	81-107
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Kenya Lesotho
Subjects:	fertility Women's Issues Health and Nutrition Miscellaneous (i.e. Demography, Refugees, Sports) Family Planning and Contraception Fertility and Infertility Cultural Roles Marital Relations and Nuptiality Health, Nutrition, and Medicine
External link:	https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA03790622_243
Abstract:	Despite the Kenyan government's family planning efforts, the country's fertility rate is still high: 8.01, compared to 5.6 in Lesotho. This article examines whether this difference in fertility is attributable to varying degrees of contraception of whether the successes of family planning programmes in both countries have been so minimal that they are still experiencing natural fertility. An analysis of fertility determinants shows that factors related to postpartum amenorrhoea (second birth interval, duration of breastfeeding, child mortality) account for 39 percent of Kenya's higher fertility, and differences in the fecundity variables (first birth interval, secondary sterility) for about 35 percent. It is evident from the cases of Kenya and Lesotho that the provision of family planning services does not necessarily lead to acceptance and use of such services. Bibliogr., notes, ref.