Machine Learning Approach in Forecasting Adolescent Fertility for Somalia

Abstract

This study employs annual time series data on adolescent fertility rate for Somalia from 1960 to 2020 to predict future trends of adolescent fertility rate over the period 2021 to 2030. The forecast evaluation criteria of the applied model indicate that the ANN (12, 12, 1) model is stable in forecasting adolescent fertility rate. The neural network model projections revealed that adolescent fertility is expected to rise and also remain very high throughout the out of sample period. Therefore, we encourage authorities in Somalia to strictly enforce laws that safeguard sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls, promote girl child education, fund empowerment programs for youths and provide accessible and affordable quality adolescent health care services. 

Country : Zimbabwe

1 Smartson. P. NYONI2 Thabani NYONI

  1. ZICHIRe Project, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
  2. Independent Researcher & Health Economist, Harare, Zimbabwe

IRJIET, Volume 7, Issue 2, February 2023 pp. 355-360

doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2023.702059

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