The influence of religion on fertility and the use or non-use of modern contraceptives in Mbeya district

This study is on the influence of Religion on fertility and modern contraceptive usage in Mbeya District, Tanzania, the purpose of the study has been to find out whether or not religion has an influence on the fertility of married women and their use or non-use of modern contraceptives and try to give a rough estimate of its effect at national level. In so doing the study intends to throw light on how religious institutions could be mobilised in attempt to promote awareness on the importance of using modern contraceptives as means of bringing down the fertility levels of adherents. Briefly the study is presented in six chapters as follows: Chapter I provides a resume of research problem and its relevance to the policy makers and planners. Chapter II reviews some related literature and examines in details the official positions of major religions on procreation and modern contraceptive usage. The four main hypotheses that need to be verified in this study are stated in this chapter. Chapter III is on the methodology used in this study. A total of 541 married women aged 15-49 with different religious affiliation, drawn randomly from 7 wards out of 41 wards in Mbeya Districts were interviewed using research instruments such as questionnaire, semi-structured interview and participation observant method. Chapter IV deals with the analysis of the findings of this study. The findings show that married women with different religious affiliation exhibit fertility levels which are not identical, with married women of Assembly of God church exhibiting the highest level of fertility in the whole observation. Also the findings reveal that frequency of participation in religious services including praying is positively related to the fertility levels of married women. With reference to fertility preference, married women with different religious affiliation have been found to desire large family sizes that correspond to the official position of their respective religious groups on procreation. Finally the findings show that modern contraceptive knowledge is widespread among most women interviewed while the percentage of the actual users of modern contraceptives is almost negligible in all religious groups, due to mainly religious reasons and culturally held norms.