Introduction
The study "Traditional supports and contemporary disrupters of high fertility desires in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review" offers valuable insights into the persistent high fertility desires in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This blog post aims to guide practitioners in leveraging these findings to enhance their understanding and approach towards fertility desires in this region.
Key Findings
The review identified 31 determinants of high fertility desires, categorized into six themes:
- Economy and Costs: Children are viewed as economic assets, especially in rural areas. However, urbanization and rising costs have led to a shift towards lower fertility desires.
- Marriage: Polygyny and marital stability influence fertility desires, with higher fertility often desired to strengthen marital bonds.
- Influence of Others: Family and community norms heavily influence fertility desires, with larger families often associated with higher social status.
- Education and Status: Increased education and autonomy for women correlate with lower fertility desires.
- Health and Mortality: High child mortality rates lead to higher fertility desires as a form of insurance.
- Demographic Predictors: Factors such as age, parity, and socioeconomic status also play significant roles.
Implications for Practitioners
Practitioners can implement several strategies based on these findings:
- Promote Education: Encourage educational opportunities for women, which have been shown to reduce fertility desires by increasing awareness and access to family planning resources.
- Support Family Planning Initiatives: Enhance access to family planning services and education, particularly in rural areas where traditional supports for high fertility are strongest.
- Engage Community Leaders: Work with community leaders to shift norms around family size, emphasizing the benefits of smaller families in contemporary economic contexts.
- Address Economic Barriers: Develop programs that alleviate economic pressures, making it feasible for families to consider fewer children.
Encouraging Further Research
The review highlights the need for more qualitative and longitudinal studies to understand the evolving nature of fertility desires in SSA. Practitioners are encouraged to engage in or support research efforts that focus on the lived experiences of individuals in these regions, providing a more nuanced understanding of fertility desires.
Conclusion
Understanding the complex interplay of traditional supports and contemporary disrupters is crucial for practitioners working in SSA. By applying the insights from this review, practitioners can better address the factors influencing high fertility desires and contribute to more effective family planning and educational initiatives.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Traditional supports and contemporary disrupters of high fertility desires in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.
