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Record high fertility in sub-Saharan Africa in a comparative perspective
Authors: Garenne M.
Source: African Population Studies, 31(2): 3706- 3723; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11564/31-2-1043
Topic(s): Breastfeeding
Fertility
Country: Africa
  Multiple African Countries
Published: NOV 2017
Abstract: The study documents cases of extremely high fertility in sub-Saharan Africa. The DHS surveys were used for the analysis, with straightforward calculations of period and cohort fertility. Two case studies were further analysed: Kenya (1965-69) and Niger (1982-86). In both cases, total fertility in rural areas reached 9 children per woman, as high as among the Hutterites of North-America (1921-1940). However, the complete family size never exceeded 8.0 children per woman in Kenya (cohorts 1939-1946) and 8.2 children per woman in Niger (cohorts 1960-1967). Compared with the Hutterites, in both African countries the age pattern of fertility was earlier and with a lower mode, age at marriage was earlier, birth intervals were longer because of long breastfeeding, and secondary infertility was more frequent after the 5th birth. Other proximate determinants of fertility appeared similar in the three populations, with the probable exception of health and nutritional status. Implications for modelling are discussed. Keywords Natural fertility; Maximum fertility; Proximate determinants; Nuptiality; Primary infertility; Secondary infertility; Breastfeeding; Kenya; Niger; Hutterites; sub-Saharan Africa
Web: http://aps.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1043/787