The Demand for Fertility Control in sub-Saharan Africa

Frank, Odile

doi:10.2307/1966870

Cited by 53 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Many studies have emphasized the resilience of pronatalist social institutions in Africa in noting that African religious customs, lineage and kinship networks reinforce high-fertility social norms, beliefs and values (see, for example, Caldwell & Caldwell, 1987Frank 1987;Caldwell et al, 1991;Pritchett, 1994). Even educated women or women with high economic status may fail to translate their fertility preferences into actual behaviour because of male dominance, if their husbands are opposed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s Autonomy and Reproductive Preferences in Eritrea

Woldemicael

2009

J. Biosoc. Sci.

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Current research and policies on reproductive behaviours in many East African countries focus primarily on proxy indicators of women's autonomy, and very little emphasis is placed on direct indicators of women's autonomy. In this paper, data from the 2002 Eritrea Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) are used to address some of the most frequently raised questions about the link between women's autonomy and reproductive behaviour. The results from the multivariate logistic models show that although the relationship between women's autonomy and reproductive preferences in Eritrea is complex, some clear, broad patterns exist that have implications for theory and policy. First, although the different dimensions of women's autonomy influence the outcome variables differently in terms of magnitude and statistical significance, most of them have a strong connection; in particular, women's final say in decisions regarding day-to-day household purchases and spousal communication are significant explanatory variables in fertility preferences and ever-use of modern contraception. Second, many background (proxy) variables, particularly household economic condition and employment, exert a strong and independent influence over fertility preferences and ever-use of contraception regardless of a woman's autonomy. In their relationship to reproductive behaviours, therefore, employment and economic status cannot be considered as proxies for women's autonomy in Eritrea. A complete explanation of the relationship between women's autonomy and reproductive preferences must recognize the effects of both the background and direct autonomy indicators. Interventions are needed to improve women's decision-making autonomy and strengthen their negotiating capacity on family planning if an increased desire to limit fertility is to be attained.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s Autonomy and Reproductive Preferences in Eritrea

Woldemicael

2009

J. Biosoc. Sci.

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“…In such settings, there is little or no voluntary childlessness and, as discussed earlier, there are often severe consequences for not achieving normative fertility. Whereas the influence of fertility demand on fertility trends and behaviours has been studied extensively, [17][18][19] its association with perceptions of fertility status has not been examined to date. In particular, little is known about how individual perceptions of fertility status are influenced by individual and social fertility expectations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unmet Fertility Expectations and the Perception of Fertility Problems in a Malawian Village

Barden-O’Fallon

2005

African Journal of Reproductive Health

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This study analyses in-depth interviews with 15 women and 11 men living in a rural Malawian village to know how fertility problems are identified and interpreted in a context of high fertility demand. Results of the analysis show that although ideal family size may be falling, expectations to quickly achieve pregnancies remain high. Individual and social expectations about childbearing inform the perception of fertility problems if more than a few months pass without a noticeable pregnancy. Such problems are usually attributed to women, especially if the male partner has proven his fertility with another spouse/sexual partner. Community education on variation in the time to conception is needed, as is an understanding of how perceived infertility, regardless of actual waiting time to pregnancy, can lead to treatment seeking and risky sexual behaviour. RÉSUMÉCette étude fait une analyse des interviews en profondeur qui ont été recueillies auprès de 15 femmes et 11 hommes qui habitent dans un village rural malawien. Elle a comme but d'examiner comment les problèmes de la fécondité sont identifiés et interprêtés dans un contexte de la damande pour la haute fécondité. Les résultats de l'analyse montrent que bien que la taille familiale idéale baisse, les espérances de devenir rapidement enceinte demeurent considérables. Les attentes idividuelles et sociales concernant la procréation justifient la perception des problèmes de la fécondité si, à la fin de quelques mois, il n'y a pas de grossesse perçue. On a souvent l'habitude d'attribuer de tels problèmes à la femme, surtout si le partenaire mâle avait déjà fait preuve de sa fécondité auprès d'une autre partenaire sexuelle. Il faut éduquer la communauté sur la variation par rapport du temps de la conception, de la même manière qu'une compréhension de la façon dont la stérilité perçue, sans compter sur la vraie période d'attendre la grossesse, peut aboutir à la recherche du traitement et au comportement sexuel à risque. (Rev Afr Santé Reprod 2005; 9[2]: 14-25)

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“…Prospects for family planning programs to induce and sustain demographic transition remain the subject of challenge on theoretical and empirical grounds, however. Various researchers have questioned whether demand for family planning in Africa is sufficient to justify policies promoting organized family planning programs in the region (Frank 1987;Frank and McNicoll 1987;van de Walle and Foster 1990). Others have noted that public investment in family planning service delivery is intrinsically inefficient because demand for services is constrained (Pritchett 1994).…”

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confidence: 99%

The Long‐Term Fertility Impact of the Navrongo Project in Northern Ghana

Phillips¹,

Jackson

Bawah

et al. 2012

Studies in Family Planning

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This study assesses the long-term fertility impact of the Community Health and Family Planning Project of the Navrongo Health Research Centre in Ghana and addresses policy debates concerning the role of family planning programs in rural Africa. Conducted in a remote traditional area on Ghana's northern border, the study tests the hypothesis that convenient family planning service delivery can induce and sustain reproductive change in a societal context that would not be expected to foster demographic transition. By 1999, results indicated that significant fertility decline arose in the early years of the project, associated with the combination of services provided by community nurses and social mobilization activities focused on men. When project strategies were scaled up, social mobilization components were neglected. As a consequence, the long-term impact of scaled-up operations was negligible. Results suggest that initial effects met the need for child spacing without introducing a sustained demographic transition.

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The Demand for Fertility Control in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract: Cahiers québécois de démographie Nuptialité et fécondité des hommes au Sud-Bénin : faits et opinions Florentin Donadjé Démographie sociale en Afrique Volume 21, numéro 1, printemps 1992 URI : id.erudit.org/iderudit/010104ar

Cited by 53 publications

References 31 publications

Women’s Autonomy and Reproductive Preferences in Eritrea

Women’s Autonomy and Reproductive Preferences in Eritrea

Unmet Fertility Expectations and the Perception of Fertility Problems in a Malawian Village

The Long‐Term Fertility Impact of the Navrongo Project in Northern Ghana

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