THE STUDY POPULATION STRUCTURE

Age distribution

A total o f 9177 people living in 1847 households were included in the study. O f these, 27.8% were under five years and 46.2% below ten years o f age. Women o f child bearing age, 10-49 years, were 29.3% and those aged 50 years and above were only 0.2%. There were 22.5% o f men who were aged 10-49 years and only 1.8% o f women aged over 50 years. In general, the population in the households included in the study were very young (table 6.14).

Table 6.14: General population structure by age and study area

Age (Years) NYANZA HOMA BAY KISH Homa Bay n = 4766 (%) Kisii n = (%) 4411 Ndhiwa n = 2304 (%) Oyugis n = 2462 (%) Suneka n - 2175 (%) Masaba n = 2236 (%) 0 -4 * 1302 (27.3) 1247 (28.3) 626 (27.2) 676 (27,5) 594 (27.3) 653 (29.2) 0 - 9 2149 (45.1) 2094 (47.5) 1038 (45.1) 1111 (45.1) 1035 (47.6) 1059 (47.3) 1 0 -1 9 910 (19.1) 725 (16.4) 437 (19.0) 473 (19.2) 384 (17.7) 339 (15.2) 2 0 -2 9 769 (16.1) 736 (16.7) 373 (16.2) 396 (16.1) 360 (16.6) 376 (16.8) 3 0 -3 9 503 (12.2) 597 (13.5) 270 (11.7) 313 (12.7) 285 (13.1) 312 (13.9) 4 0 -4 9 250 (5.2) 189 (4.3) 126 (5.5) 124 (5.0) 88 (4.0) 101 (4.5) 50 + 105 (2.5) 73 (1.7) 60 (2.6) 45 (1.8) 23 (1.1) 50 (2.2) * Included in the 0 - 9 age group

The ratio o f male:female varied according to age group (figures 6 . 8 and 6.9). In all areas,

the ratio o f male : female was about 1:1 for those aged 0-15 years; 1:1.4 for 15-49 years and 1:0.1 for those over 50 years. Between 20 and 30 years, the most active reproductive age the male : female ratio was 1:2.5. These patterns were observed in all the study areas. The sudden reversal in the male:female ratio from the age o f 40-49 years in the study population is explained by the fact that the study targeted women o f child bearing age, most o f whom were in their teens, 2 0 s and 30s, while their husbands were several years

older. Between the two districts, males in Kisii were relatively young than those in Homa Bay different (X^ = 14.39, p = 0.002). However, the reverse was true for females (X^ = 9.37, p = 0.02).

Figure 6.8

Distribution of Homa Bay Study Population

60+ 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 o. 3 2 M 30-34 ^ 25-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 5-9 0-4 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 P ercen tages I ■ M ale □ Fem ale Source; H A O Ondolo, 1996.

At divisional level, the age distribution for males in Ndhiwa and Oyugis was the same. In Kisii district males in the two divisions also had similar age distribution. The females in the two divisions o f each district also had similar pattern respectively (table 6.15).

Figure 6.9

Distribution of Kisii Study Population

55-59

1

Source: HAO Ondolo, 1996.

The age structure o f the population living in the study households with children under- five years shows interesting differences from that of the general community with a much higher proportion o f children under-five years in the study population (27% in Homa Bay and 28% in Kisii) compared to that of the general population (19% in Homa Bay and

19% in Kisii) (figures 6 .8 , and 2.1 ; and 6.9 and 2.2).

Table 6.15: The study population in Homa Bay and Kisii Districts by age and sex

Age (years) MALE FEMALE

HOMA BAY Ndhiwa = 1056 Oyugis n=l 157 Ndhiwa n= 1248 Oyugis n=1305 (%) (%) (%) (%) 0-4 287 (27.2) 335 (29.0) 339 (27.2) 341 (26.1) 0-9 481 (45.5) 559 (48.3) 557 (44.6) 552 (42.3) 10-19 198 (18 8) 204 (17.6) 239 (19.2) 269 (20.6) 20-29 101 (9.6) 107 (9.2) 272 (21.8) 289 (22.1) 30-39 127 (12.0) 143 (12.4) 143 (11.5) 170 (13.0) 40-49 92 (8.7) 100 (8.6) 34 (2.7) 24 (L ^ 50 + 57 (5.4) 44 (3.8) 3 ^ j ) 1 (0.1)

KISII Suneka n== 1032 Masaba n=1061 Suneka n= 1143 Masaba n=1176 (%) _(%) (%) (%) 0-4 289 (28.0) 328 (30.9) 305 (26.7) 325 (27.6) 0-9 507 (49.1) 532 (50.1) 528 (46.2) 527 (44.8) 10-19 180 (17.4) 150 (14.1) 204 (17.8) 189 (16.1) 20-29 123 (11.9) 101 (9.5) 237 (20.7) 275 (23.4) 30-39 137 (13.3) 157 (14.8) 148 (12.9) 155 (13.2) 40-49 67 (6.5) 78 (7.4) 21 (1.8) 23 (2.0) 50 + 18 (1.7) 43 (4.1) 5 (0.4) 7 ^1.6) Marital status

Marital status was assessed for all the people who were aged 15 years and above. Out of 9177 people in the study, 3929 (42.8%) were over 15 years of age. O f these, 3229 (82.1%) were married (67.2% and 15.1% respectively being in monogamous and polygamous marriages), 16.1% had never married, 1.1% were widowed and 0 .6 % had

married but were separated at the time of the study. Distribution o f the population over 15 years according to marital status in each district and division is shown in table 6.16. In the high mortality area (Homa Bay) nearly one quarter (23.4%) o f the population aged 15 years and above were in polygamous marriage, compared to 5.7% in the low mortality area (Kisii). Homa Bay also had more people who were widowed and separated than Kisii. On the other hand Kisii had more people who were single and in monogamous marriage than Homa Bay. At divisional level Ndhiwa had the highest proportion (28.9%)

o f people in polygamous marriage followed by Oyugis (18.2%), Masaba (6.3%) and Suneka 5.0%. While Oyugis in Homa Bay and Masaba in Kisii had more people who were single in their respective districts, Ndhiwa in Homa Bay and Suneka in Kisii had more people who were widowed and separated, (table 6.16).

Table 6.16: The study population aged over 15 years by marital status and study area

Marital status NYANZA HOMA BAY KISII Homa Bay Kisii Ndhiwa Oyugis Suneka Masaba n=2079(%) n=I847 (%) n-lO II (%) n=1068(%) n -8 8 7 (%) n=960(%) Married Monogamous 1221 (58.7) 1416(76.7) 535 (52.9) 686 (64.2) 695 (78.4) 721 (75.1) Polygamous 487 (23.4) 105 (5.7) 292 (28.9) 195 (18.3) 44 (5.0) 61 (6.4) Single 329 (15.8) 303 (16.4) 151 (14.9) 178 (16.7) 132 (14.9) 171 (17.8) Widowed / separated 42 (2.1) 23 (1.2) 33 (3.3) 9 (0.8) 16 (1.9) 7 (0.7)

The main differences observed between the study areas in marital status were among those who were currently married and who had never married. Among those who were in monogamous and polygamous marriage, significant difference was observed between Homa Bay and Kisii (X^ =250.92, p < 0.001), and Ndhiwa and Oyugis (X^ = 36.32, p < 0.001), but not between Suneka and Masaba (Table 6.16). However, in Homa Bay, for those who were single there were more (57.1%) males than females (42.9%) compared to Kisii where females (57.8%) were more than males (42.2%). At divisional level, the proportion o f females who were single was highest in Masaba (64.6%) followed by Suneka (51.5%), Oyugis (48.3%) and Ndhiwa having the least, 36.4%. This indicates that in Kisii (Masaba and Suneka) females married at an older age than in Homa Bay (Ndhiwa and Oyugis).

6.4.3 EDUCATION

School attendance

The 5834 residents who were aged 7 years and above were assessed for school attendance, that is whether attending, completed or never attended school. Out o f these, 37.0% were attending school at the time o f the study, 49.5% had left school and 13.5% had never been to school. For the entire study population aged over 7 years, Kisii had more (18.9%) residents who had never attended school compared to Homa Bay (8 .6%).

At divisional level, Suneka had the highest (32.3%) proportion o f residents who had never attended school, followed by Ndhiwa (12.7%), Masaba (5.7%) and Oyugis with the least (4.8%), (table 6.17).

Table 6.17: The study population over 7 years by school attendance and study area.

School NYANZA HOMA BAY KISII Attendance

Age (years) Homa Bay Kisii Ndhiwa Oyugis Suneka Masaba Aged over 7 n=3079(%) n=2755 (%) n=1495 (%) n=1584(%) n=1367 (%) n=1388 (%) ► Completed 1611 (52.3) 1275 (46.3) 749 (50.1) 862 (54.4) 488 (35.7) 787 (56.7) Attending 1202 (39.0) 959 (34.8) 556 (37.2) 646 (40.8) 437 (32.0) 522 (37.6) Not attended 266 (8.6) 521 (18.9) 190 (12.7) 76 (4.8) 442 (32.3) 79 (5.7) Aged 15-24 n=780 n=580 n = 396 n = 384 n = 312 n = 268 Completed 491 (62.9) 309 (53.3) 256 (64.6) 235 (61.2) 158 (50.6) 151 (56.3) Attending 272 (34.9) 199 (34.3) 126 (31.9) 146 (38.0) 86 (27.6) 113 (42.2) Not attended 17 (2.2) 72 (12.4) 14 (3.5) 3 (0.8) 68 (21.8) 4 (1.5) Aged 7-14 n=1000 n=907 n=484 n=516 n=480 n=427 Attending Not 926 (92.6) 752 (82.9) 429 (88.6) 497 (96.3) 351 (73.1) 401 (93.9) attending 74 (7.4) 155 (17.1) 55 (11.4) 19 (3.7) 129 (26.9) 26 (6.1)

The age group 15-24 years represent young adults and potential parents. For those who have completed or never attended school, they may have missed opportunities to continue with or ever attend school. Table 6.17 shows the proportion o f young adults (15-24 years) who have missed opportunities for getting or continue with education. The ranking o f

those in this age group who had never been to school is similar to those aged over 7 years, with Suneka having the highest (21.8%) proportion and Oyugis the least (0.8%).

Primary education in Kenya starts at the age o f 6-7 years and continues up to age 14-15 years. It is expected that children aged 7 - 14years should be attending school. However as shown in table 6.17, out o f 1907 children in this age group, 229 (12.0%) were not attending school. Suneka with 26.9% had the highest proportion o f children aged 7-14 years not attending school and Oyugis had the lowest, 3.7%.

Allowing for the children who start going to school late, the study assessed the age distribution o f only those aged 1 0 years and above who were attending school at the time

o f the study. Table 6.18 shows that Kisii had few people aged over 20 years who were attending school but this was attributed mainly to the situation in Suneka. The areas with few people attending school after the age o f 2 0 years also had very high proportions of

people aged 10-15 years attending school. This pattern could be explained by the fact that the same areas like Suneka and Ndhiwa experience high early school drop out rates, (table 6.18).

Table 6.18: Distribution o f people over 10 years who were at school by age

Age (years) NYANZA HOMA BAY KISII Homa Bay Kisii Ndhiwa Oyugis Suneka Masaba n = 802 (%) n = 636 (%) n = 376 (%) n = 426 (%) n = 301 (%) n = 335 (%) 10- 14 526 (65.6) 429 (67.5) 249 (66.2) 277 (65.0) 215 (71.4) 214 (63.9) 15- 19 230 (28.7) 178 (28.0) 110 (29.2) 120 (28.2) 80 (26.6) 98 (29.2) 20 + 46 (5.7) 29 (4.6) 17 (4.6) 29 (6.8) 6 (2.0) 23 (6.9) Level o f education and sex

Out o f 5834 residents in Homa Bay and Kisii Districts who were aged 7 years and above, 13.7% had never been to school, 31.5% had attained lower primary (1-4 years o f schooling), 39.2% had reached upper primary (5-8 years o f schooling), 14.9% had

secondary education and only 0.7% had attained advanced level or university education. Level o f education attained by residents who were aged 7 years and above according to study areas is summarized in table 6.19.

T able 6.19: D istrib u tio n of population over 7 years by level of education an d sex

STUDY AREA / SEX LEVEL OF EDUCATION (YEARS OF SCHOOLING)