Govt Reveals Counties Where Women Want to Delay or Avoid Giving Birth

A report from the Ministry of Health, Division of Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (DRMNCAH). Has revealed counties with the highest and lowest modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (MCPR).

According to the Division, 46% of women of reproductive age do not want more children.

Similarly, 30% of women want to delay the next pregnancy; therefore, 76% need contraception.

Nyeri, Kirinyaga, and Embu lead with over 70% mCPR.

Several counties are falling between 60-70% including Kerichi, Nandi, Vihiga, Uasin Gishu, Kitui, Kakamega, Kisii, Bungoma, Makueni, Laikipia, Taita Taveta, Nyamira, and Trans Nzoia.

Others are Machakos, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Muranga, Tharaka Nithi, Kiambu, and Meru.

Nairobi County is among the counties with mCPR between 50 and 59%.

Other counties in this bracket include Narok, Homa Bay, Migori, Busia, Kisumu, Kajiado, Bomet, and Elgeyo Marakwet.

Lamu, Mombasa, Siaya, Kilifi, and Baringo fall between 35% and 49%.

Counties with the Lowest mcpr

Some of the counties with the lowest MCPR include Tana River and West Pokot, with between 20-30%.

Others in this group include Samburu, Isiolo, Turkana, and Kwale.

Four counties have an mCPR of between 0-14%.

This includes Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, and Garissa.

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Govt Observations

The division said there is global momentum to increase family planning (FP) uptake by reducing the unmet need for FP.

MoH said Kenya has adopted evidence-based approaches and innovations in FP (self-injection, HIUD, Total Market Approach, iLMIS)

Kenya is a signatory to the FP2030 commitments. Various development and implementing partners are supporting FP uptake efforts.

Also Read: Gates Foundation Invests Ksh322B to Revolutionize Global Women’s Health

Kenya National Contraceptive Goals

Kenya aims to achieve an mCPR of 64 by 2030, and 70 by 2050, as an indicator for married women for monitoring purposes.

The government also plans to increase funding to ensure sustainability and uninterrupted access to FP commodities and services. 

It also wants to harness technology and innovation to improve access to quality FP information, products, and services.

Strategic Objectives

• Increase FP service uptake among special groups (Youth, PLHIV, PLWD, hard-to-reach areas, Displaced populations).
• Improve the capacity of all service providers to offer quality FP services.
• Strengthen the FP commodity supply chain management.
• Improve coordination of FP service provision nationally among all market segments

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