title: The Influence of Religion and Ethnicity on Family Planning Approval: A Case for Women in Rural Western Kenya.
abstract: The role of sociocultural factors such as religion and ethnicity in aiding or hampering family planning (FP) uptake in rural Western Kenya, a region with persistently high fertility rates, is not well established. We explored whether attitudes towards FP can be attributed to religious affiliation and/or ethnicity among women in the region. Findings show that religion and ethnicity have no impact; the most significant factors are level of education and knowledge about the benefits of FP for the mother. FP interventions ought to include strategies aimed at enhancing women's knowledge about the positive impacts of family planning.
authors.affiliation: African Population and Health Research Center, P.O. Box 10787, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya. paulabak80@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bakibinga
authors.affiliation: African Population and Health Research Center, P.O. Box 10787, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
authors.forename: Namuunda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mutombo
authors.affiliation: African Population and Health Research Center, P.O. Box 10787, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mukiira
authors.affiliation: African Population and Health Research Center, P.O. Box 10787, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamande
authors.affiliation: African Population and Health Research Center, P.O. Box 10787, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ezeh
authors.affiliation: Great Lakes University Kisumu, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008875:Middle Aged; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012736:Sex Education; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ethnicity; Family planning approval; Religion; Western Kenya