Determinants of High Fertility Status among Married Women in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center of Jimma University, Oromia, Ethiopia: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the countries with high and uncontrolled fertility in Africa. The TFR is 4.8 children per woman and under five mortality rates 88 per 1000 live births. This study was designed to identify determinants of high fertility status among Married woman Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center of Jimma University. Unmatched case-control study was conducted. Cases are women with number of children ever born alive greater or equal to five and controls are women with number of children ever born alive less than five. Simple random sampling technique was used. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data by using backward variable selection technique. In this study, age at last birth affect fertility status significantly with adjusted OR of 25.65. Under-five mortality affected fertility status significantly AOR of 1.91. Monthly family income, Age at first marriage, history of stillbirth experience and number of children desired before marriage were the other variables that showed significant associations with the level of fertility. The finding implies high fertility status is strongly associated with age at last birth, child death and some other factors like stillbirth. Hence measures that reduce child mortality and stillbirth are believed to decrease fertility status besides promoting child survival.