Impact Factor (2025): 6.9
DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET
Zambia’s population pyramid is broad based indicating high
fertility rates and lower life expectancy which is characteristic of developing
countries. In this research article, the ANN approach was applied to analyze
TFR in Zambia. The employed annual data covers the period 1960-2018 and the
out-of-sample period ranges over the period 2019-2030. The residuals and
forecast evaluation criteria (Error, MSE and MAE) of the applied model indicate
that the model is stable in forecasting TFR in Zambia. The results of the study
indicate that annual total fertility rates in Zambia are likely to hover around
5.0 births per woman (ranging from 4.5 to 4.7) over the out-of-sample period.
Therefore, we encourage the Zambian government to focus on addressing
adolescent and young adult challenges encountered when seeking sexual and
reproductive health services in health care facilities and channel more
resources towards women empowerment program activities.
Country : Zimbabwe
IRJIET, Volume 5, Issue 8, August 2021 pp. 437-440