Diferencial de atitude frente ao uso de contracepção moderna entre as etnias quenianas, 1989 - 2008

Abstract

Kenya has shown, in the last 30 years, a significant reduction in their total fertility rate and increase of the percentage of married women using modern contraception. As a country marked by a history of high fertility, rejection of modern contraception and strong sense of ethnic belonging, the study sought to ascertain how this change in contraceptive behavior relates to the Kenyan ethnic groups, between the years 1989 and 2008. In order to measure the contraceptive behavior, a new variable was built: positive attitude for modern contraception use. This variable combine others variables related to the use and intention to use modern methods. The hypotheses stated that the ethnic belonging was related to positive attitude, however, this correlation would lose importance over time due to the advancement of policies and greater access to information. We used data of 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2008 editions of Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) and developed a binomial logistic model, in which the dependent variable was "the woman has a positive attitude or dont have it". Through this model the hypothesis was supported. In 1989, most ethnic groups had statistical significance of 99% in the logistic model with control variables. In 2008, the coefficients converged and ethnicity lost statistical significance. Thus, we note that, although the ethnic belonging is very important to the Kenyan people, it does not have a high correlation with positive attitude today as it had earlier. It is also observed that the difference detected between ethnicities have reduced considerably. The dissertation also discussed the importance of culture related to modern contraceptive use in sub-Saharan and Kenyan context and how culture is inserted to the demographic debate.