Rural women are more fertile than their urban counterparts: Survey

By Lerato Ndlovu
A SURVEY released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has established that rural women in Zimbabwe are more fertile than those in urban areas.
The Multiple Cluster Indicator Survey (MICS) results released indicated that Mashonaland West led on fertility while Bulawayo Metropolitan province had the least fertility rate.
ZIMSTAT Director-General Taguma Mahonde stated that the survey was carried out during the January to April period.
“ZIMSTAT carried the MICS during the period January to April this year that present on different issues”
Ms Evelyn Marima the MICS finding presenter said that there was a need to do more research and find out why rural women were more fertile.
“The total fertility rate (TFR) is calculated by summing the age-specific fertility rates, (ASFRs) calculated for each of the five-year age groups of women, from age 15 through to age 49,” she said.
“The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) per woman age 15-49 years is 3.9 children, TFR ranges from a low of 2.6 children in Bulawayo to a high of 4.4 in Mashonaland West.
The study also shows that Age-Specific Fertility Rate (ASFR) peaks at age 20-24 years for women in rural areas and peaks at age 25-29 years for women in urban.
“Adolescent Birth Rate was 8 times higher in women with primary than those with higher education, and 4 times higher in women from the poorest than those from the richest households.
“Adolescent Birth Rate ranged from 56 births per 1 000 women in Harare to 161 births per 1 000 women in Matabeleland North.”
During a discussion after the presentations questions were asked on why the rural women were more fertile.
“There is a need to do further research and come up with well-informed reasons why rural women are more fertile than their urban counterparts,” a Ministry of Health official stated.