Gender equality and fertility transitions in Africa

Clifford O. Odimegwu, University of the Witwatersrand
Sunday Adedini, University of the Witwatersrand

What role has gender equality played in fertility transitions in Africa? This study seeks to address this and other questions with a focus on the fertility levels of two selected countries in Africa. Using Demographic and Health Survey datasets of Nigeria and Kenya, the study examines the relationship between the current level of gender systems and fertility transitions in Africa. The prospects for future fertility decline in the continent are also discussed. In order to capture the present level of gender system and as it influences fertility transition in Africa, we undertake analysis of datasets of two countries which are at different levels of fertility transition. Analysis is restricted to women of childbearing age. The outcome variables in this study are fertility intention and children ever born (CEB). The selected explanatory variables are socio-economic characteristics, and demographic characteristics. Other important explanatory variables are sex preference, women perceptions about wife-beating and a number of women autonomy variables. Three levels of analysis – univariate, bivariate and multivariate are undertaken.The results indicate that less than 1 in 5 women could make contraceptives decisions in Nigeria as against 25.8% in Kenya. Analysis of women autonomy characteristics also shows that more than two-thirds of women (in both countries) still held the perception of being their husband’s property. Also, husbands still dominate decision-making process on the number of children to have (p<0.05). Hence, higher fertility levels are expected in the near future in both Nigeria and Kenya, with Nigeria fertility levels higher than that of Kenya. Both Kenya and Nigeria data also indicate a significant relationship between fertility intention and such characteristics as: educational attainment, place of residence and current working status (P<0.05). In terms of gender equality, findings showed that Kenya is a more egalitarian country than Nigeria.