THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF POPULATION STUDIES
RESEARCH PROJECT IN DEMOGRAPHY (DEM 4214)

COURSE COORDINATOR : MR A. BANDA

SUPERVISOR : MS. G SONGOLO
TASK : RESEARCH PROPOSAL
GROUP NUMBER :1

GROUP MEMBERS
NAME COMPUTER NUMBER

ADAH BITIAH CHEMBO 2016131946

MUTINTA M DIMUNA 2016141616

TITLE OF STUDY: FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE MODERN AND TRADITIONAL

CONTRACEPTIVE USE AMONG WOMEN OF THE REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN URBAN
AREAS - ZAMBIA
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF STUDY
This study is being conducted to examine factors that influence modern and traditional methods
of contraceptives among women of the reproductive age in urban areas. A rapid population
growth resulting from non-use of contraception is a burden on the resources of a developing
country such as Zambia, where unregulated fertility, compromises the pursuit of economic
development.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND QUESTIONS

GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To determine the factors that influence contraceptive use among women of the reproductive age
in urban areas of Zambia.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
 To establish the extent of general use of contraception among women of the reproductive
age in urban areas
 To determine demographic characteristics affecting contraceptive use among women of
the reproductive age in urban areas
 To assess the influence of socio-economic characteristics on contraceptive method used
(modern or traditional)
 To establish the factors that influence discontinuation of contraceptive use among women
of the reproductive age

RESEARCH QUESTION
 What factors determine contraceptive use among women of child bearing age in Zambia?

SPECIFIC RESEARCH QUESTIONS

 What is the extent of general use of contraception among women of the reproductive age
in urban areas?
 What demographic characteristics affect contraceptive use among women of the
reproductive age in urban areas?
  What influence do socio-economic characteristics have on contraceptive use among
women of the reproductive age?
 What factors influence discontinuation of contraceptive use among women of the
reproductive age in urban areas?
DATA SOURCE
The data used for the study was secondary data which was drawn from the Zambia Demographic
Health Survey 2018 dataset. The 2018 Zambia Demographic Health Survey provided up-to-date
estimates of basic demographic and health indicators. In the interviewed households, 14,189
women aged 15-49 were identified as eligible for individual interviews; 13,683 women were
interviewed. From the 5,766 women in urban areas who were eligible for interviews, 5, 513
women aged 15-49 were interviewed (Zambia Statistics Agency, et al., 2019).

DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY

The 2018 Zambia Demographic Health Survey dataset provides demographic estimates of the
country based on a sample of 13, 625 households which are representative at national, urban and
rural, and provincial levels. Four questionnaires were used in the 2018 ZDHS: The Household
Questionnaire, the Woman’s Questionnaire, the Man’s Questionnaire, and the Biomarker
Questionnaire. For this study, the women’s questionnaire will be used. It is from this women’s
questionnaire that the information on contraception used has been drawn (ibid).

KEY VARIABLES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ANALYSIS

VARIABLES Source Dataset Variable name
OUTCOME/DEPENDENT VARIABLES
CURRENT USE BY METHOD TYPE DHS women V313
CONTRACEPTIVE USE AND INTENTION DHS women V364
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
AGE OF A WOMAN DHS women V013
MARITAL STATUS DHS women V501
PARITY DHS women V201
EDUCATION DHS women V106
OCCUPTION DHS women V717
WEALTH INDEX DHS women V190
DATA ANALYSIS SOFTWARE
The data will be analyzed using STATA/SE 13.0, excel and will be reported in word. To increase
the degree of accuracy, the population of interest (women of the reproductive age in urban areas)
will be systematically selected using the Stata drop and keep variable commands. Descriptive
statistics such as age, marital status, wealth index is going to be computed using the STATA
software. This is due to the fact that software is user friendly, the most widely accepted software
that allows for large data sets, research group members have got adequate knowledge of this
program and the software is efficient as it allows for the analysis of numerous variables. This
study will use quantitative data analysis of the objectives outlined. Quantitative data analysis will
entail critical analysis and interpretation of figures and numbers, and attempts to find the
emergence of the main findings. To aid our presentation of data, graphs and frequency tables will
be used. This presentation of data on graphs and frequency tables shall be made possible through
the use both STATA and MS-EXCEL.
TYPE OF ANALYSIS TO BE PERFORMED
In order to analyze the topic under study, descriptive and inferential analysis will be used. Under
descriptive analysis, the dataset will be analyzed using the bivariate analysis method. This is due
to the fact that this method helps to relate one variable against another which makes it possible to
investigate if there is a relationship existing, or if it exists, to determine whether or not it is
significant. Under inferential analysis, correlation and the chi- square test will be used.
Correlation will make it possible to have an understanding of how strong or weak a relationship
is between the observed variables of interest which can either be positive or negative. The chi
square test will measure association between two categorical variables and calculate the
probability that the relationship observed between two categorical variables is due to chance.

TABLE SHELLS

Table 1.0 Percent distribution of Respondent by Background Characteristics

Background characteristic Frequency Percent

Age    

15-19 x x
20-24 x x

25-29 x x

30-34 x x

35-39 x x

40-44 x x

45-49 x x

Marital Status    

Never in union x x

Married/living with partner x x

Widowed x x

Divorced x x

No longer living together/ separated x x

Education    

No education x x

Primary x x

Secondary x x

Higher x x

Wealth Index    

Poorest x x

Poorer x x

Middle x x

Richer x x

Richest x x

Occupation    

Not working x x

professional/technical/managerial x x

Clerical x x

Sales x x
agricultural - self employed x x

household and domestic x x

Services x x

skilled manual x x

unskilled manual x x

Parity    

0 x x

1 x x

2 x x

3 x x

4 x x

5 x x

6 x x

7 x x

8 x x

9 x x

10+ x x

Total x x

Table 2.0 Percent distribution of respondent current use by method type by background characteristics

Traditional
Background characteristic No method Modern method
method 

Age      
15-19 x x x
20-24 x x x
25-29 x x x
30-34 x x x
35-39 x x x
40-44 x x x
45-49 x x x
Marital Status      
Never in union x x x
Married/living with partner x x x
Widowed  x x x
Divorced x x x
No longer living together/ separated x x x
Education      
No education x x x
Primary x x x
Secondary x x x
Higher x x x
Wealth Index      
Poorest x x x
Poorer x x x
Middle x x x
Richer x x x
Richest x x x
Occupation      
Not working x x x
professional/technical/managerial x x x
Clerical x x x
Sales x x x
agricultural - self employed x x x
household and domestic x x x
Services x x x
skilled manual x x x
unskilled manual x x x
Parity      
0 x x x
1 x x x
2 x x x
3 x x x
4 x x x
5 x x x
6 x x x
7 x x x
8 x x x
9 x x x
10+ x x x
Total x x x
 Table 3.0 Percent distribution of respondent fertility preference by method type by background
characteristics
Have Sterilized
another No (respondent declared
Background characteristic child Undecided more or partner) infecund
Age          
15-19 x x x x x
20-24 x x x x x
25-29 x x x x x
30-34 x x x x x
35-39 x x x x x
40-44 x x x x x
45-49 x x x x x
Marital Status          
Never in union x x x x x
Married x x x x x
Living with partner x x x x x
Widowed x x x x x
Divorced x x x x x
No longer living together/ separated x x x x x
Education          
No education x x x x x
Primary x x x x x
Secondary x x x x x
Higher x x x x x
Wealth Index          
Poorest x x x x x
Poorer x x x x x
Middle x x x x x
Richer x x x x x
Richest x x x x x
Occupation          
Not working x x x x x
professional/technical/managerial x x x x x
Clerical x x x x x
Sales x x x x x
agricultural - self employed x x x x x
household and domestic x x x x x
Services x x x x x
skilled manual x x x x x
unskilled manual x x x x x
Parity          
0 x x x x x
1 x x x x x
2 x x x x x
3 x x x x x
4 x x x x x
5 x x x x x
6 x x x x x
7 x x x x x
8 x x x x x
9 x x x x x
10+ x x x x x
Total x x x x x