Faith, Culture, and Choice: Unraveling the Determinants of Modern Contraceptive Use Among Married Women in Garbatula Sub‐County, Kenya

TL;DR

This study explores how cultural, religious, and gender factors affect contraceptive use among married women in Kenya's Garbatula sub-county.

Contribution

The study identifies specific predictors like reduced religious influence and male involvement as key to contraceptive use in a pastoralist setting.

Findings

Reduced religious influence strongly predicts modern contraceptive use (AOR = 13.918).

Male involvement in reproductive decisions increases contraceptive use (AOR = 7.765).

Rigid cultural norms and patriarchal attitudes hinder contraceptive adoption.

Abstract

This study examined the influence of cultural, religious, and gender‐related factors on modern contraceptive use among married women in Garbatula sub‐county, Isiolo County, Kenya. Using a cross‐sectional design, data were collected from 300 married women aged 15–49 years through multistage random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi‐square tests, and binary logistic regression. Findings showed that reduced religious influence (AOR = 13.918; 95%CI : 2.54–76.30), male involvement in reproductive decision‐making (AOR = 7.765; 95%CI : 2.30–26.23), and higher women′s empowerment (AOR = 4.322) were strong positive predictors of modern contraceptive use, whereas rigid cultural norms and patriarchal attitudes were significant barriers. The study concludes that contraceptive behavior in pastoralist settings is shaped by religious and gender norms rather than access alone. It recommends engaging religious leaders, strengthening male‐centered family planning education, and integrating gender‐sensitive strategies within the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) to enhance uptake.

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