Non-Marital Fertility and its Implication to the Child and the Mother in Makueni District, Kenya

Abstract

A study of levels of non-marital fertility and its implication to the mothers and their children was conducted in Makueni District which is arid and semi-arid district of Kenya; prone to droughts and feminine that occurs periodically each year. More than 75% of the population live below poverty line ; majority (>51%) of whom are women who are severely affected due to marginalization in terms of access to ownership of assets and other sources of income thus prone to non-marital sex, pregnancies and childbearing . A rural-peri-urban appraisal survey was adopted targeting women aged between 15-49 years who had non-marital fertility. Data on non-marital fertility characteristics were obtained from a random sample of 120 unmarried women using questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion (FGD’s). Through FGDs majority (75%) of the women admitted that poverty made them look for financial assistance from men as rewards for sexual relationship that resulted in unwanted pregnancies. Consequently levels and implication of non-marital fertility is important in creating awareness to the community of the consequences and policy making process aimed at reduction of non-marital pregnancies especially to mothers who are not able to provide their children with basic needs for their well being.