Survey: 65 percent of married women in Nakuru use contraceptives
A skyline of Nakuru City.
About 65 per cent of currently married women in Nakuru County are using contraceptive methods, with implants and injectables accounting for the largest share of modern family planning options, according to the 2025–26 Kenya Mini Demographic and Health Survey.
The survey found that 65.4 per cent of married women in the county were using a contraceptive method, while 62.2 per cent relied on modern methods and 3.2 per cent used traditional methods. However, 34.6 per cent were not using any contraceptive method at the time of the survey. The county findings were based on 614 women interviewed.
Among the modern methods, injectables were the most commonly used in Nakuru at 25.6 per cent, followed by implants at 23 per cent. Contraceptive pills accounted for 7.4 per cent, intrauterine devices (IUDs) 3.5 per cent, male condoms 1.1 per cent and female sterilisation 1.3 per cent.
The figures show that long-acting methods, particularly implants, alongside injectables, account for a substantial share of contraceptive use in the county.
The findings also indicate widespread awareness of family planning, with 99.7 per cent of currently married women in Nakuru having heard of at least one contraceptive method, including modern options.
Nationally, awareness of injectables, implants, male condoms and pills stood at 97.7 per cent, 96.8 per cent, 96.3 per cent and 95.3 per cent respectively among married women.
Despite the high level of awareness, the survey highlights the need to ensure women can access appropriate family planning information and services. Nationally, 16 per cent of currently married women had an unmet need for family planning, meaning they wanted to space or limit births but were not using contraception.
The survey further found that 28 per cent of contraceptive-use episodes in the five years preceding the survey were discontinued within 12 months, with the desire to become pregnant and side effects or health concerns among the leading reasons.