Fertility transition in Benin : new reproductive patterns or traditional behaviours?.
Capo-Chichi, Pacome Virgile Aristide;
(1999)
Fertility transition in Benin : new reproductive patterns or traditional behaviours?.
PhD thesis, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17037/PUBS.00682287
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This study analyses reproductive changes in Benin,
a
West African
country with
high fertility
and
low prevalence of use of modem contraceptive methods, using a combination
of quantitative
and
qualitative approaches. Findings indicate that a transition to
lower fertility is
underway, particularly
in the urban areas, as a result of an emerging pattern
of
birth limitation
and continued
desire for the
traditional long birth intervals. But only a
small
change
has
occurred
in the
main proximate
determinants of fertility. The data suggest:
that changes in childhood mortality
in
combination
with
increased
women's
education,
though modest, have probably created
a
demand for fertility
control
among
women;
that induced abortion among other
factors,
may
be
one of the
means through
which
such
demand was met, particularly in urban areas;
and that the economic crisis of the 1980s was the
main catalyst
which precipitated the
onset
of transition.
Changes in reproductive preference and practice suggest
a
diffusion
process,
from the
urban
and
more educated women to the rural and less educated
ones.
The
data
also
reveal that the
low
prevalence of use of modem contraception may
be
associated with
poor
knowledge,
widespread
fear
of side effects and complications and poor quality
of
family
planning
services.
The
main
policy
implication of these results is that an appropriate reproductive
health
programme
is
required
to
address women's needs and reduce the levels of
unwanted
pregnancies and
induced
abortion
which
are likely to be rising rapidly.