Women’s Education and Birth Control in Rwanda

Abstract

This study examined the role of women’s education in birth control in Rwanda from 1995 to 2000. It was conducted in four provinces, including Kigali City, using a survey questionnaire to collect data using a descriptive methodological approach. The population size is estimated to be 1067 n, comprised of women aged 15 to 49. Results indicated that younger women with fertility desire between 2–3 children are 75.07%; the rural area cohabitation rate among college students is 37.82%, while the Western model cohabitation in urban areas and universities is 19.23%; and contraceptive use is 46.3% among young women and 72.34%; among married women. Therefore, there was a significantly higher correlation between women with a high level of education and a lower fertility desire, which resulted in an increase in the age of first marriage.