title: Benefits of family planning: an assessment of women's knowledge in rural Western Kenya.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The last two decades have seen an increase in literature reporting an increase in knowledge and use of contraceptives among individuals and couples in Kenya, as in the rest of Africa, but there is a dearth of information regarding knowledge about benefits of family planning (FP) in Kenya.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the factors associated with knowledge about the benefits of FP for women and children, among women in rural Western Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data are drawn from the Packard Western Kenya Project Baseline Survey, which collected data from rural women (aged 15-49 years). Ordinal regression was used on 923 women to determine levels of knowledge and associated factors regarding benefits of FP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women in rural Western Kenya have low levels of knowledge about benefits of FP and are more knowledgeable about benefits for the mother rather than for the child. Only age, spousal communication and type of contraceptive method used are significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women's level of knowledge about benefits of FP is quite low and may be one of the reasons why fertility is still high in Western Kenya. Therefore, FP programmes need to focus on increasing women's knowledge about the benefits of FP in this region.
authors.affiliation: Population Dynamics and Reproductive Health Research Program, African Population & Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Namuunda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mutombo
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bakibinga
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mukiira
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamande
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Family planning benefits; Knowledge; Western Kenya