Record high fertility in sub-Saharan Africa in a comparative perspective
Reproductive Health
31
Issue: 2
(11 - 2017)
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 |939-
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.
Key words: Natural fertility; Maximum fertility; Proximate determinants; Nuptiality; Primary infertility;
Secondary infertility; Breastfeeding; Kenya; Niger; Hutterites; sub-Saharan Africa
0