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The demography of sub-saharan Africa from the 1950s to the 2000s. A survey of Changes and a Statistical Assessment.

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... Since the 1980s, however, there has been relatively little demographic attention directed towards the dynamics of divorce and remarriage in sub-Saharan Africa. This neglect is attributable, in part, to the absence of detailed union history information in nationally representative surveys collected in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Demographic and Health Surveys and national Censuses (Tabutin and Schoumaker 2004). Although a number of country-specific studies have investigated the prevalence of divorce and its correlates (Locoh and Thiriat 1995;Reniers 2003;Tilson and Larsen 2000;Grant and Soler-Hampejsek 2014;Takyi and Gyimah 2007;Takyi and Broughton 2006), only recently have indirect estimation techniques been developed that provide new insights into cross-national patterns of divorce (Clark & Brauner-Otto, 2015). ...
... A study that examined the prevalence of polygamy across 260 sub-national regions in 29 African countries found that 27.8 percent of women in the average region reported having at least one co-wife, with substantial within-country heterogeneity (Smith-Greenaway and Trinitapoli 2014). Others have also noted the variation in the prevalence of polygamy across countries, ranging from a low of 3 percent of women in Madagascar to more than half of women in Burkina Faso and Guinea (Reniers and Watkins 2010;Westoff 2003;Tabutin and Schoumaker 2004). Despite the widespread practice of polygamy, a growing body of evidence indicates that the institution has become less common over time. ...
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The institutions of marriage and the family have undergone profound changes over recent decades in sub-Saharan Africa, following differentiated paths across and within countries. These changes, however, have not been systematically related to variation in fertility and its decline over time. We use Demographic and Health Survey data from 29 countries in sub-Saharan Africa to examine how nuptiality patterns have changed over the period 1991-2019, and how these changes are associated with changes in the total fertility rate and ideal family size. Using multi-level linear models, we find that our four marriage indicators are all significantly associated with the total fertility rate, but only the associations with polygyny and remarriage are robust to the inclusion of sub-national region fixed effects. Our results suggest that declines in the prevalence of remarriage and polygyny together may account for 17 percent of total fertility decline in the average sub-national region over the period of study. In addition to these results, we find a significant positive association between the prevalence of polygyny and ideal family size, but no association between ideal family size and divorce, remarriage, or the age at first marriage after including fixed effects.
... The global adolescent population (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) is estimated to have reached 1.3 billion (49%: 15-19 years old) in 2020, of whom over 235 million (46%: 15-19 years old) live in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), accounting for 23% of the region's population [1]. Healthy adolescence is critical for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those related to health, education, poverty, security, and reduction of inequalities [2,3], in particular adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH). ...
... Inequalities in sexual and reproductive health persist as existing reviews document higher rates of early marriage and childbearing among adolescents who are poorer, less educated and from rural areas [13,14]. Recent evidence shows that early marriage and childbearing among adolescents in SSA has declined, most notably among urban and better-educated populations [13][14][15][16]. Age at sexual debut among adolescents in SSA has been increasing, with some studies showing a relatively lower proportion of boys and girls reportedly initiating sexual intercourse before age 15 [17][18][19]. ...
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Background Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) is a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, inequalities in ASRH have received less attention than many other public health priority areas, in part due to limited data. In this study, we examine inequalities in key ASRH indicators. Methods We analyzed national household surveys from 37 countries in SSA, conducted during 1990–2018, to examine trends and inequalities in adolescent behaviors related to early marriage, childbearing and sexual debut among adolescents using data from respondents 15–24 years. Survival analyses were conducted on each survey to obtain estimates for the ASRH indicators. Multilevel linear regression modelling was used to obtain estimates for 2000 and 2015 in four subregions of SSA for all indicators, disaggregated by sex, age, household wealth, urban–rural residence and educational status (primary or less versus secondary or higher education). Results In 2015, 28% of adolescent girls in SSA were married before age 18, declined at an average annual rate of 1.5% during 2000–2015, while 47% of girls gave birth before age 20, declining at 0.6% per year. Child marriage was rare for boys (2.5%). About 54% and 43% of girls and boys, respectively, had their sexual debut before 18. The declines were greater for the indicators of early adolescence (10–14 years). Large differences in marriage and childbearing were observed between adolescent girls from rural versus urban areas and the poorest versus richest households, with much greater inequalities observed in West and Central Africa where the prevalence was highest. The urban–rural and wealth-related inequalities remained stagnant or widened during 2000–2015, as the decline was relatively slower among rural and the poorest compared to urban and the richest girls. The prevalence of the ASRH indicators did not decline or increase in either education categories. Conclusion Early marriage, childbearing and sexual debut declined in SSA but the 2015 levels were still high, especially in Central and West Africa, and inequalities persisted or became larger. In particular, rural, less educated and poorest adolescent girls continued to face higher ASRH risks and vulnerabilities. Greater attention to disparities in ASRH is needed for better targeting of interventions and monitoring of progress.
... Lowering population growth rates has been the goal of many countries particularly, in sub-Saharan Africa (Alkema et al, 2013). Although there has been some decline in fertility in the region (Tabutin and Schoumaker, 2004), many countries like Nigeria still has a high fertility situation. The 2013 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reported an average of 5.2 children per woman at the end of her reproductive years. ...
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The study examined the effect of household decision making on the use of contraceptives and fertility behaviour of ever-married men in Nigeria. Men’s Recode Dataset of 2013 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) dataset was used. A sample size of 8,981 ever married men aged 15-49 were analyzed using Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression. The study revealed that majority of men who take a sole decision on their earning and are using contraceptives want more children. Other factors influencing men’s fertility behaviour included age, education, wealth status, age at marriage, religion, the number of living children, ethnicity and media exposure. The study concluded that women empowerment in decision making and in the use of contraceptive methods should be promoted to reduce men’s fertility behaviour. Key Words: Contraceptive, decision making, fertility behaviour, ever-married Men, Nigeria
... We employed a standard systematic review of databases to search and identify 31 articles that reported risk factors and practices in SSA. From the 50 SSA countries [45], this scoping review was able to identify studies from 9 countries, which represented 18% of the total countries. Here, we provide a summary of ndings and probable justi cation of ndings, document the strengths and limitations, and attempt to create a trail for future studies. ...
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Introduction Urinary Tracts Infections remain a major public health challenge with a particular higher burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. There remains a dearth of information in literature regarding patterns of risk factors and practices associated with Urinary Tract Infections in Sub-Saharan Africa. This scoping review aimed at documenting the risk factors and practices associated with Urinary Tract Infections in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods A systematic search of databases was done under the guidelines outlined by Joanna Brigs Institute to retrieve original articles that met inclusion criteria. Standard bibliographic information for articles that met the inclusion criteria was recorded in an Excel spreadsheet and then exported to SPSS version 21for statistical analysis. Biographic information, risk factors, and practices findings from statistical analysis were presented in tables, bar graphs and charts, followed by a summarized narrative account of the risk factors and practices that emerged. Reporting was conducted in accordance with preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Results Out of the 794 studies identified, 31 studies met inclusion criteria. Studies included in this review were distributed in 9 countries, Ethiopia leading with 38.7% (n = 12), Nigeria followed with 25.8% (n = 8), Uganda 9.7% (n = 3), Cameroon and Kenya each contributed 6.5% (n = 2), and Ghana, Tanzania, Burkina Faso and Zambia each contributed 3.2% (n = 1). Twenty one risk factors and three practices were identified to be associated with Urinary Tract Infections in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conclusion The current evidence demonstrated the dire need for future studies to lay more emphasis on methodological and statistical rigor. Particularly, this scoping review identified the need to further investigate practices which wee underinvestigated. Further, methodological and statistical rigor should be emphasized by future studies.
... The negative relationship between neighborhood deprivation and poor health outcomes demonstrates the important contributions of place on the double burden of disease in Ghana where differential neighborhood environments is a manifestation of widening wealth disparities. Urbanization of African cities has been noted to be largely demographic in outlook and therefore does not commensurate with the economic and infrastructural development of the continent [28]. The slow pace of economic and infrastructural developments in urban settings consequently contribute to high rates of unemployment, low wages, poverty, and inequalities that have implications for poor health outcomes [29]. ...
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Many developing countries including Ghana are currently experiencing dual disease burdens emerging from an unprecedented risk overlap that drive their epidemiological transitions. Yet, siloed and disintegrated approaches continue to take precedence in health research and policy programs that drive competition for limited resources to address competing health problems. The objective of this study was to offer empirical evidence in support of a cogent argument for an integrated framework for the study and management of infectious and chronic health conditions in Ghana. We did so by examining the prevalence, determinants, and neighborhoods trajectories of the double burden of disease using data from a cross-sectional neighborhood-based study in Ghana. We fitted multinomial multilevel multivariate models to a sample of 1377 individual surveys and the results presented as odds ratios. Findings show that amidst a rising burden of NCDs, infectious diseases remain the most common health condition and participants in deprived neighborhoods were significantly more likely to report poor health outcomes. Risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption were significantly associated with NCDs and infectious diseases and respondents who reported being diagnosed with NCDs and infectious diseases in the past year were likely to engage in leisure time physical activities and eat healthy. Based on our findings, we recommend health reforms in Ghana and argue for the design and implementation of an integrated framework for the study and management of the double burden of disease in Ghana and similar developing country settings.
... Although research on the causes of a fertility stall (slowing down of fertility decline) is still a neglected area, Bongaarts (2008) posits that poor performing economies, rising mortality, particularly due to HIV/AIDS, and weakening family planning program efforts to reduce unwanted fertility could have caused fertility to stall in some sub-Saharan countries. Since the late 1980s or the early 1990s mortality began to increase due to HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe (Gregson, Zhuwau, Anderson of al. 1997;Feeney, 2001;Tabutin and Schoumaker, 2004). HIV prevalence is estimated to have risen from a little above 10 per Zimbabwe. ...
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The study utilises four Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSS) conducted in 1988, 1994, 1999, and 2005 in Zimbabwe to examine the socioeconomic differentials in fertility over time. The period fertility (age-specific and total fertility) rates, cohort-period fertility rates (CPFRs), projected parity progression ratios (projected PPRs), and logistic regression methods are used in the analysis, overall, to assess the nature of fertility transition. All the measures of fertility indicate an ongoing fertility decline in Zimbabwe among all parities and age groups mainly as a result of an increase in modern contraceptive uptake. Overall, fertility decline has been much more rapidly in the in the 1980 decade and slowed since 1990. The analysis shows an inverse association between urban residence, education and economic status, measured by ownership of household assets, and fertility based on the total fertility (TFR), CPFRs and projected PPRs estimates. Further analysis of the net effects of economic status and education using multivariate logistic regressions suggests the odds of having a child (not having a child) decreases (increases) with economic status and education. Overall, even after controlling for various socioeconomic variables fertility decreases with a rising level in education and/or economic status.
... One of the interesting findings from cross country analyses is that the fertility impact of individual schooling is generally weak in poor, rural and mostly illiterate societies and grows more influential in more prosperous society (Diamond et al., 1999;Jejeebhoy, 1995;United Nations, 1995). Several other studies also show that fertility has a strong negative correlation with education (Sleebos, 2003;Kravdal, 2001;Koppen, 2006;Mencarini & Tanturri, 2006;Tabutin & Schoumaker, 2004;2005). ...
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Providing equal access to education, especially to women, is a key pillar for achieving sustainable development goal. Good quality education improves the individual as well as social development through increasing occupational opportunities, women empowerment; reducing the burden of diseases, poverty, mortality as well as fertility. The present study investigates the connection between education on fertility and also analyses the changes in this dynamic relationship from 1981 to 2011 in Sagar district, India. This study included primary (field survey) as well as secondary data analysis (Census of India). Logistic regression analysis measured the likelihood of women from various socio-economic backgrounds in three different educational levels of using contraception. Decomposition analysis was done to find out the educational composition change on temporal scale fertility change. Results highlighted the role of female education on fertility and dynamics of relationship which may be used for policymakers in developing areas alike Sagar District. Key Words: decomposition analysis, female education, fertility, parity progression ratio, logistic regression
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As the rest of the developing world, Sub‐Saharan Africa has experienced profound transformations in the institution of marriage. Yet, unlike most other regions, polygyny has remained widespread across the subcontinent. There is, however, evidence to suggest that the practice of polygyny is declining and that selection into polygynous unions based on sociodemographic characteristics is increasing as sub‐Saharan Africa undergoes rapid sociocultural, demographic, and economic change. Using data from 111 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 27 countries since the 1990s, we study recent trends in the prevalence of polygyny among currently married women, examine sociodemographic characteristics of women in polygynous unions, and test whether selection on these characteristics into polygynous unions has increased over time. We find that, net of other factors, the likelihood of being in a polygynous union has declined in most countries. We show that women who are less educated, non‐Christian, and living in rural areas are more likely to be in a polygynous union and that in many countries, selection into polygynous unions on these characteristics has been growing. These findings contribute to the broader literature on marital and family change by providing new insights into recent trends in and patterns of polygyny across the subcontinent.
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A wealth of new data have been unearthed in recent years on African economic growth, wages, living standards, and taxes. In The Wealth and Poverty of African States, Morten Jerven shows how these findings transform our understanding of African economic development. He focuses on the central themes and questions that these state records can answer, tracing how African states evolved over time and the historical footprint they have left behind. By connecting the history of the colonial and postcolonial periods, he reveals an aggregate pattern of long-run growth from the late nineteenth century into the 1970s, giving way to widespread failure and decline in the 1980s, and then followed by two decades of expansion since the late 1990s. The result is a new framework for understanding the causes of poverty and wealth and the trajectories of economic growth and state development in Africa across the twentieth century.
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This study investigates whether young people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have experienced processes of de-standardization of the life course similar to those observed in high-income societies. We provide two contributions to the relevant literature. First, we use data from 263 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) across 69 LMICs, offering the richest comparative account of women’s transition to adulthood (TTA) patterns in the developing world existing to date. In so doing, we shift the focus from individual life-course transitions towards a holistic approach that allows us to characterize the life-course complexity by detailed sequences of events, namely first sexual intercourse, first union, and first birth. Second, using a clustering algorithm based on optimal-matching distances of lifecourse sequences, we identify clusters of TTA and explore their changes across cohorts by region and urban/rural location of residence. Results stress the importance of investigating cross-regional differences in partnership and fertility trajectories by looking at the interrelation and complexity of status combinations. Summarizing the ensuing heterogeneity through four clusters, we document significant differences by macro-regions yet relative stability across cohorts. We interpret the latter as suggestive of cultural specificities that make the TTA resistant to change and slow to converge across regions, if converging at all.
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(english) The urban African societies are in the process of transformation: the education of women is progressing, the labor market is transforming, in particular the number of wage earners is decreasing, the age of marriage is postponed, and women participate more and more in economic life. Despite the fact that marriage comes later, it appears that the unions are less stable than before. So, what is the future of the women after divorce? Often presented as vulnerable, are divorced women more so than other women? The reality is certainly more complex and we try to put in evidence the diversity of the situations in analyzing the divorce and the postdivorce in two African capitals, Dakar and Lom�, both culturally and economically different. The analysis is conducted from two recent investigations (Lom� in 2000 and Dakar in 2001) that reposition divorce in the marital life, productive life, professional life, and residential life of the individual. We analyze the relationships between marital life and professional life. _________________________________ (fran�ais) Les soci�t�s africaines urbaines sont en pleine mutation : la scolarisation des femmes progresse, le march� du travail se transforme en particulier le salariat r�gresse, l'�ge au mariage recule, les femmes participent de plus en plus � la vie �conomique. Bien que le mariage soit plus tardif il semble que les unions soient moins stables que pr�c�demment. Quel est alors le devenir des femmes apr�s leur divorce? Souvent pr�sent� comme vuln�rable les femmes divorc�es le sont-elles plus que les autres femmes? La r�alit� est certainement plus complexe et nous tentons de mettre en �vidence la diversit� des situations en analysant le divorce et l'apr�s divorce dans deux capitales africaines, Dakar et Lom�, fort diff�rentes culturellement et �conomiquement. L'analyse est conduite � partir de 2 enqu�tes biographiques r�centes (Lom� en 2000 et Dakar en 2001) qui permettent de resituer le di
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(English) Evolutions in matrimonial behaviour reveal profound changes in society. Current transitions in nuptiality in African cities can be mainly accounted for by the increase in schooling for girls, but also by growing economic difficulties that tend to weaken traditional systems governing social life. Transitions in nuptiality concern the age at which unions are entered into, but also the entire dynamics of matrimony, including changes in the age differences of spouses, marriage breakdowns, etc. This study particularly underlines the complexity of polygamy, which is more frequent in West Africa than in the other regions of the continent. A certain number of changes have taken place within African societies in recent years. In particular, deepening economic difficulties have led to a marked increase in the average age for first marriages, and unions have become more fragile. These changes can therefore result either in an evolution in the practice of polygamy, or in changes to the other factors. If the age difference on marriage is reduced, polygamy can only be maintained by a corresponding growth in definitive male celibacy. On the other hand, giving up polygamy would have an enormous impact on how these societies are organised and run, especially as this would challenge men's power over women, and elder people's over younger people. _________________________________ (français) L’évolution des comportements matrimoniaux est révélatrice de profondes mutations de la société. Dans les villes africaines, la transition de la nuptialité en cours est largement due à la scolarisation des jeunes filles mais aussi aux difficultés économiques croissantes conduisant à un affaiblissement du système traditionnel de gestion de la vie sociale. La transition de la nuptialité concerne non seulement l’âge d’entrée en union, mais aussi toute la dynamique matrimoniale, comme l’évolution de l’écart d’âges entre conjoints, les ruptures d’union, etc.
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La disminución de la mortalidad puede jugar un papel importante en la evolución de la fecundidad. A menudo, los demógrafos han intentado explicar la correlación entre estos fenómenos a partir de una ¨toma de decisión racional¨ por parte de los individuos, un concepto basado en teorías formuladas a partir de análisis cuantitativos. En este estudio utilizamos datos cualitativos recogidos en zonas urbanas y rurales de Senegal para evaluar en qué medida las explicaciones de los individuos relativas a la toma de decisiones en materia reproductiva confirman las hipótesis demográficas. Entrevistas en profundidad con hombres y mujeres permiten examinar la toma de conciencia y los razonamientos conscientes relativos al reemplazo y a la seguridad, a la percepción de la mortalidad y de los otros riesgos relacionados con la procreación y a la capacidad de actuar de acuerdo a tales percepciones. La escasez de elementos en favor de la existencia de estrategias explícitas de reemplazo y seguridad, sugiere que su impacto su impacto sobre la fecundidad es débil entre los Wolofs de Senegal, aun entre la élite urbana y educada, para la cual el coste de los hijos en términos monetarios y de atención paterna son las limitaciones principales. La mortalidad infantil no es un elemento importante en el discurso relativo a la toma de decisiones en materia de procreación.