Fertility and culture in sub-Saharan Africa: A review*

摘要: The determinants of high fertility in sub-Saharan Africa are reviewed. impact culture on is well represented the literature but little known about fostering or polygyny and their fertility. Strong evidence supports notion that remains due to entrenched patriarchal system family inheritance distinguishes women as child care providers producers. Women encouraged have early marriages used exchange commodities for brideswealth. Womens status respect dependent without which there sigma disrespect. Fertility decline will occur when major changes made perceptions belief systems traditions. Specifically improvements needed female education labor force opportunity. practice brideswealth should be stopped. a greater degree decision making within number children. Average African 1987 was 6.7 children ranged from 7.2 Uganda 4.1 Gabon. basic framework understanding has been developed by Davis Blake with eleven intermediate socioeconomic environmental proximate variables further refined Bongaarts into eight quantifiable measures called determinants. Marriage patterns widely examined Lesthaeghe found low West East medium Central Coastal Africa. Polygyny widespread. Brideswealth arranged marriage deep roots kinship lineage systems. Van de Walle Caldwell all studied postpartum abstinence vary across countries societies. Breast feeding universal. Frank determined highest levels infertility (more than 20% aged 45-49 years). Demand studied. Omideyi reports Yoruba consider meaningless Acsadi Johnson-Acsadi find size desires Sub Saharan Isiugo-Abanihe indicates more prevalent Sierra Leone. Page agrees economic cost/benefit analysis inappropriate studying