Page 158 - IJPS-11-5

International Journal of
Population Studies Contraception and fertility in Zambia

clearer understanding of the magnitude of contraceptive use trend of almost two children was observed between 1992
alone in driving fertility decline. The method’s advantages and 2018 (from 6.5 children to 4.7 children/woman).
include its ability to identify contributing factors to Furthermore, the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in
inequality, providing detailed information for policymakers. Zambia showed a reduction from 33.8% to 29.2% between
However, the technique is limited by its reliance on linear 1992 and 2018 (Figure 1).
assumptions, potential sensitivity to model specification,
and inability to fully account for unobservable factors that 3.3. Changes in contraceptive use trends by
may influence group differences (de-Boer & Rodrigues, sociodemographic characteristics
2020; Rahimi & Hashemi Nazari, 2021) Contraceptive mutilation among sexually active women in
Zambia showed different trends based on background from
3. Results 1992 to 2018 (Table 2). The trend changes in contraceptive
3.1. Background characteristics of respondents use occurred across all the DHS intervals. Overall, a change
of 30.8% (14.2% – 45.0%) occurred among sexually active
Table 1 presents the proportional distribution of women during the analysis period. The largest change
demographic attributes within the sample population happened from 1992 to 1996 (12.3%), and the lowest was
comprising individuals engaged in sexual activity across from 2013 to 2018 (0.2%). Contraceptive use increased by
six DHSs. Most women surveyed from 1992 to 2018 7.8% between 2001 and 2007.
fell within the age range of 25 – 34 years (34.4%, 33.3%,
33.7%, 36.5%, and 34.0%, respectively, across the 5 years). Zambia displayed regional differences in the transition
The distribution by place of residence shows that in all of contraceptive use over time. Overall, rural areas recorded
the survey years except for 1992, more women resided the largest increase (33.7%) compared to urban areas
in rural than urban areas. When it comes to education (28.1%) between 1992 and 2018. Urban areas recorded the
level, the surveys consistently showed that most sampled largest increase (12.9%) between 1992 and 1996, and the
women had a primary level of education, with percentages lowest from 2013 to 2018 (−0.5%). Rural areas recorded
decreasing from 59.5% in 1992 to 43.3% in 2018. There was the largest increase in prevalence of contraceptive use from
an apparent increase in women with tertiary education, 2001 to 2007 (10.8%), and the lowest was recorded from
from 2.1% in 1992 to 5.9% in 2018, and in secondary 2013 to 2018 (2.3%).
education, from 21.4% in 1992 to 40.5% in 2018. Results show that women aged 25 – 34 years recorded
In each of the survey years, more than 33% of the the highest improvement in contraceptive utilization
participants were from economically disadvantaged between 1992 and 2018 (35.2%). The lowest increase in
households, while the percentage of respondents from rich contraceptive use was recorded among adolescents aged 15
households rose from 44.1% in 1992 to 45.5% in 2018. With – 19 years (21.3%). The highest contraceptive use among
the exception of 1996, employed women outnumbered women aged 25 – 34 years was recorded between 1992 and
unemployed women in all the surveys. The proportion of 1996 (10.9%), and the lowest from 2013 to 2018 (−0.3%).
women employed has varied from 50.0% in 1996 to 58.0% in Among the women aged 35 – 49 years, the largest increase
2001. Table 1 further reveals that the proportion of women was recorded from 2007 to 2013 (9.7%).
who initiated their first sexual debut during the adolescence In terms of marital status, women who were married
period increased from 41.6% in 1992 to 71.0% in 2018 but recorded the highest improvement in utilization of
was stable, around 50%, between 1996 and 2013. contraceptives between 1992 and 2018 (39.4%). The highest
3.2. Trends in contraceptive use and fertility increment was recorded between 1992 and 1996 (13.6%),
dynamics in Zambia and the lowest was recorded from 2013 to 2018 (0.5%).
The lowest increase was recorded among women who
During the 26-year period, the country has recorded a were never married (16.7%). Among the women who were
steady and progressive rise in the contraceptive prevalence never married, the largest increase was recorded from 1992
rate. The trend in utilization of contraceptive methods to 1996 (8.2%), while the lowest was recorded from 2007 to
among sexually active, reproductive-aged women 2013 (−0.1%) (Table 2).
showed an increase from 14.2% in 1992 to 45.0% in
2018. A significant increase happened between 1992 and 3.4. Decomposition analysis of contraceptive
2001 (14.2% – 31.6%) while the smallest increase occurred transition on fertility rate
between 2013 and 2018 (44.8% – 45.0%) (Figure 1). The results of the multivariable decomposition indicate that
The results further show that although total fertility rates the fertility change in Zambian women from 1992 to 2018
have been resilient in Zambia for a long period, a declining can be attributed to changes in both women’s compositional

Volume 11 Issue 5 (2025) 152 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.4866