Women’s desire to limit childbearing and associated factors in Tanzania

Evidence from the 2022 demographic and health survey

Bibliographic Data

ID22427802
AuthorsMtoro J Mtoro (0000-0003-0487-0559, Kampala International University, corresponding author), Elihuruma Eliufoo Stephano (0000-0001-9605-3577, Central South University), Mariam Mkoma, Joanes Faustine Mboineki (0000-0002-8024-6726, The University of Dodoma)
Year2026
Volume23
Issue1
Pages33-33
Publication date2026-01-07
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReproductive Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1742-4755 • E-ISSN: 1742-4755
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/s12978-025-02260-2
PMID41501885
OpenAlexW7119015203
LanguageEN
References cited26

BACKGROUND: High fertility rates in Tanzania contribute significantly to rapid population growth, posing challenges to socioeconomic development and straining the already burdened health system. The total fertility rate in Tanzania is 4.8 children per women. Women's ability to control the number of children they have influences population growth and is critical for improving maternal and child health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of women's desire to limit childbearing in Tanzania. METHODS: This analytical cross-sectional study utilized secondary data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. This study included 2,851 currently married women selected through a two-stage sampling method. Women who were sterilized, declared infecund, or unmarried were excluded. A modified Poisson regression model with a robust variance estimator was used to determine factors associated with the desire to limit childbearing. Adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of desire to limit childbearing was 20.2% (95% CI: 18.4-22.2). Women aged 25-34 years (APR = 2.90, 95%CI: 1.34-6.28) and those aged 35-49 years (APR = 7.43, 95%CI: 3.42-16.11) were more likely to have a desire to limit childbearing compared to those aged 15-24 years. Women in primary education (APR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.08-1.69), women in the rich quintile (APR = 1.26, 95%CI: 1.03-1.54), working women (APR = 1.60, 95%CI: 1.31-1.95), increase in the number of children (APR = 1.26, 95%CI: 1.21-1.30) were associated with a higher prevalence of the desire to limit childbearing. CONCLUSION: One in five women in Tanzania expressed a desire to limit childbearing. This desire was associated with various demographic and obstetric factors. Addressing this requires a multifaceted strategy that expands family planning awareness and improves access to sexual and reproductive health services, while reducing sociodemographic and geographic disparities.

Family planning · Fertility · Population · Public health · Reproductive health · Tanzania · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Global Maternal and Child Health · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Reproductive Medicine

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