Determinants of Fertility Status Among Reproductive Age Women in Rural Ethiopia: Evidence From 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey

Abstract

Background: Fertility rate is a significant determinant of population growth worldwide. Global population is growing about 80 million people each year. Ethiopia is one of the most heavily populated countries in the world. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the major determinants of fertility status among reproductive age women in rural Ethiopia. Methods: The study used 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys data. A total of 8464 rural women aged 15 to 49 years included in the analysis. Poison Regression model was used to determine factors moving fertility status of rural women. Results: The overall average children ever born to women in rural regions were 5.1 children per women. Poisson regression analysis revealed that region, age group of respondents, education level, religion, household wealth index, sex of the head of the household, contraceptive use, age at first birth and mass media were found to be statistically significant factors for fertility rate of women. Conclusion: To reduce the gap of fertility rate between regional women, it is important to renovate different factors. These factors could be access to education, informing about contraceptive use, informing about family planning, enhancing to mass media. Therefore, the government and concerned bodies should plan effective strategies to increase the experience of using contraceptive across the country with transport limited regions. In addition to this, it is important to develop and keep the access of family planning services and the government could also uphold an access of education system for those restricted regions.