The correlate between fertility and landholding among rural women in kenya: a multivariate analysis
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Date
2013-05
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Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
The present study is an understanding of the relationship that exists between landholding and
the reproductive behaviour of rural women in Kenya. Traditional women have rights to
cultivate land as well as control income from the resulting crop production but rarely have
rights to allocate or alienate land. Men are the rightful owners of the land. When the rightful
owner person passes away, the eldest son of the family automatically takes ownership of the
land and subsequent care of the family. This period of land ownership supported high fertility
rates. However, in current spaces this practice has changed. Land is scarce and people are
opting for other alternatives of limiting their family sizes.
The aim of the study is to address the dissimilar changes of fertility behaviour among women
in rural Kenya. Particularly, landholdings and low fertility behaviour, focusing on how this
change happened. Data used is from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS)
2008/2009. We acquire a representative sample size of 6761 women age 15-49 from the data.
A multiplicity of statistical parameters like chi-square test, p-value, logistic regression, and
multivariate analysis are adopted.
In this regard, the relationship that exists between fertility and landholdings leads to large
family sizes. In addition, land decrease has lead to the search of alternatives such as
education, employment, and increase in age at marriage. The introduction of these factors has
promoted smaller family sizes.
This study is immensely useful for the policy makers, planners and other interested
stakeholders in population and development spheres in this juncture.
Description
Masters of Science
Keywords
Fertility, fertility behaviour, landownership, rural women, sex preference, desired family size, farm size, fertility levels, and trends.