46 percent of Kenyan women either do not want more children or prefer sterilization, findings from the Ministry of Health (MoH) show.
In its National Update on Family Planning Program in Kenya, the Ministry indicated that fertility intentions of women aged 15–49 have changed over the years, mainly as a result of increased use of family planning methods. Of those interviewed, 30 percent indicated that they would like to postpone pregnancy, whereas 17 percent indicated that they would like to have another child soon. Overall, the figures show that 76 percent of women require contraception.
The Ministry further noted that 63 percent of women currently use some form of family planning, with 57 percent relying on modern methods. The breakdown shows that 20 percent use injectables, 19 percent implants, 8 percent pills, 4 percent intrauterine devices (IUDs), while 6 percent turn to traditional methods.
Boosting Funding and Expanding Access
The National Family Planning Program has unveiled plans to increase funding to guarantee sustainability and ensure uninterrupted access to contraceptives and related services.
The programme also aims to increase uptake of family planning among the priority groups, including the youth, persons living with HIV (PLHIV), persons living with disabilities (PLWD), hard-to-reach populations, and displaced persons.
Speaking to the media to mark the World Contraception Day 2025, Dr. Edward Serem, Director of the Division of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to increase access to family planning. He outlined the following targets:
- Raise the modern contraceptive prevalence rate among married women from 57 percent to 64 percent by 2030.
- Reduce unmet family planning needs from 14 percent to 10 percent.
- Lower adolescent pregnancy rates from 15 percent to 10 percent by 2025.
Dr. Serem pointed to recent innovations, including self-administered injectables like DMPA-SC, new contraceptive options such as the hormonal intrauterine device (HIUD), and digital systems to track and manage supplies.
“Kenya’s vision is a future where every pregnancy is wanted, and where no woman is denied access to the family planning method of her choice,” he said.
Dr. Serem underscored that sustainable domestic financing remains critical to facilitating stable access to contraceptives, and urged increased engagement with counties, development partners, and communities.
The Ministry of Health will lead Kenya’s national commemoration of World Contraception Day on September 26, 2025, at the Makueni County Referral Hospital Grounds in Wote.
This year’s global theme is “A Choice for All: Agency, Intention and Access,” which Kenya has adapted as “Chaguo La Wote; Making Contraception Accessible.”
The post Family Planning Shift as 46% of Kenyan Women Say ‘No’ to More Children appeared first on Bossnana.
