New Study: Ugandan women fertility drops as family planning use goes up

The study conducted in 2022 and released on Thursday, September 7 in Kampala, disclosed that the fertility rate among women decreased from 5.4 to 5.2 children per woman between 2016 and 2022.

UDHS is carried out every five years by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

This year’s report identified the Karamoja region as having the highest fertility rate at 6.7, followed by Bukedi at 6.5 and Bunyoro at 5.5.

Conversely, Kampala displayed the lowest fertility rate at 3.7, followed by Lango at 4.6, and Ankole and Kigezi, both standing at 4.7.

The study also revealed an increase in the use of modern family planning methods among women, rising from 35% to 38%, while the utilization of traditional methods remained constant at 4% over the past five years.

Dr. Chris Mukiza, the Executive Director of UBOS, explained that although there was a reduction in the fertility rate, it was relatively smaller compared to the preceding period from 2011 to 2016 when it dropped from 6.2 to 5.4. 

Mukiza attributed this phenomenon to the persistently high infant mortality rate in Uganda.

"When children do not live past 5 years, parents are incentivized to continue having children to replace them," he said.

Mukiza as such, emphasized the need to reduce the Infant Mortality Rate as a means to reduce further the fertility rate, stating, "One element that will make a difference in the fertility rate is ensuring a drop in the Infant Mortality Rate."

The report indicated that the child mortality rate for those under 5 years of age is 52 out of every 1000 infants, while neonatal mortality, which pertains to babies who pass away within the first four weeks after birth, stands at 22 per 1000. In comparison, the global infant mortality rate currently stands at 26 per 1000 children.

On a more positive note, the study highlights an increase in Ugandan women's access to maternal healthcare. For instance, the percentage of women giving birth at healthcare facilities surged from 37% to 91% between 2000 and 2022.

During the report's release, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng commended UBOS for their work, saying, "The UDHS 2022 findings come at a time when the country is undertaking various health programs to ensure that citizens have equal access to health services as and when needed.”