Determinants of fertility intentions among women of reproductive age in South Africa: evidence from the 2016 demographic
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Determinants of fertility intentions among women of reproductive age in South Africa: evidence from the 2016 demographic and health survey Olusegun Sunday Ewemooje1,2 · Elizabeth Biney1 · Acheampong Yaw Amoateng1
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract Against the background of the fertility decline in South Africa in recent years, the present study aimed at understanding the factors that shape South African women’s general childbearing aspirations. Specifically, it sought to examine the effect of selected sociodemographic factors on the fertility aspirations of two groups of reproductive-aged women in South Africa, 15–34 years (younger women) and 35–49 years (older women). The results showed that being black African, having at least secondary-level education, urban residence, being employed and increased parity significantly determined women’s intentions for children, regardless of the age cohort. Belonging to a ‘richer’ wealth index category and living in a household of three or more people significantly determined fertility intentions for younger women, while cohabitation significantly determined fertility intentions for older women. The study also found that urban residence and increased parity significantly reduced fertility indecision for younger women only. Implications for policy interventions are discussed. Keywords Age cohort · Childbearing aspirations · Fertility intention · South Africa · Women
* Olusegun Sunday Ewemooje [email protected] Elizabeth Biney [email protected] Acheampong Yaw Amoateng [email protected] 1
Population and Health Research Entity, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Mahikeng, South Africa
2
Department of Statistics, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure, Nigeria
13
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O. S. Ewemooje et al.
Introduction The total fertility rate (TFR)—the average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime should she experience current cross-sectional age-specific fertility—is key to understanding population change (Ajzen and Klobas 2013). In the past 50 years, there has been a notable demographic transition as fertility levels have steadily declined in most parts of the world (Roser 2019). Trends to lower fertility seem to be the norm as the number of children born per woman globally has fallen to about 2.5, although sub-Saharan Africa lags behind most regions in the world with a TFR of 4.9 children (UN DESA/Population Division 2017). Unlike most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, fertility levels have also been declining in South Africa; indeed, South Africa has one of the lowest fertility rates in the region, with 2.6 children per woman (National Department of Health [NDoH] et al. 2019; Stats SA 2015). In general, the fertility rate is a function of the childbearing aspirations and decisions of individual women and/or couples. Study after study has established a close link between fertility aspirations and fertility behaviour; invariably, these studies have found that fertility intention
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