Fertility preferences and subsequent childbearing in Africa and Asia

A synthesis of evidence from longitudinal studies in 28 populations

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4269111
AutoresJohn G F Cleland (0000-0002-1471-7016, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), John Cleland (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), Kazuyo Machiyama (0000-0003-4369-3954, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), John B Casterline (0000-0002-0058-9973, The Ohio State University)
Ano2020
Volume74
Fascículo1
Páginas1-21
Data de publicação2020-01-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPopulation Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0032-4728 • E-ISSN: 1477-4747
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00324728.2019.1672880
PMID31694465
OpenAlexW2985290254
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas33
Referências citadas75

Survey data on fertility preferences have played a central but controversial role in fertility research and advocacy for family planning. We summarize evidence from longitudinal studies in 28 Asian and African populations on the relationship between preferences and subsequent childbearing. While we found no consistent association between women's desire to delay childbearing and subsequent fertility, the baseline desire of women to stop childbearing was a powerful predictor of subsequent fertility in all populations and increased in strength as overall contraceptive use in the study populations rose. Partners’ desire also exercised some influence but was of modest importance in most populations. However, the correspondence between desire to stop and behaviour was found to be far from perfect. Weak implementation of preferences by contraception is likely to be the major cause of this preference–behaviour discrepancy. Uncertainty and instability in preferences may also contribute to the discrepancy, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa

Economics · Family planning · Fertility · Longitudinal data · Longitudinal study · Population · Preference · Research methodology · Sociology · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Contraception