title: "Not a boy, not a child": A qualitative study on young people's views on childbearing in Uganda.
abstract: To understand reasons for persistent high fertility rate, we explored perceptions and influences of fertility motivation among young people from Uganda. Qualitative inquiry was used, data were organised using NVivo 2 package and latent content analysis performed. Major themes that emerged on factors that entrench high fertility included "Sustenance of 'men's blood' through the male child"; "poverty, joblessness and child bearing", and "other socio-cultural issues: religion, kin, elders and child bearing". Factors that reduce fertility included "perception on women emancipation, job security and couple fertility communication". Young peoples' views on motivation for childbearing in Uganda are embedded in cultural norms and linked strongly to patriarchy, social respectability and women's sustenance. Innovative cultural practices and programs that increase women's social respectability such as emphasis that a girl can be heir and inherit her father's property are needed to reduce son-preference and fertility rates in the younger generation.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. jbeyeza@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jolly
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beyeza-Kashesy
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neema
authors.forename: Anna Mia
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ekstrom
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kaharuza
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mirembe
authors.forename: Asli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kulane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001723:Birth Rate; D003469:Culture; D005191:Family Characteristics / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D043762:Reproductive Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012945:Social Values; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult