Fertility in Sub-Saharan African Countries with Consideration to Health and Poverty

Yongil Jeon (), Sang-Young Rhyu () and Michael Shields
Additional contact information
Yongil Jeon: Central Michigan University
Sang-Young Rhyu: Yonsei University

No 3526, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Fertility has begun to fall in Sub-Saharan Africa but it remains high on average and particularly for a few countries. This paper examines African fertility using a panel data set of 47 Sub-Saharan countries between 1962 and 2003. Fixed and random country effect estimates are made in models where the explanatory variables are suggested by the theory of the demographic transition as modified by Caldwell. Special attention is paid to the economic status of women, urbanization, the poverty level, and the health of the population including total health expenditures and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. The results support Caldwell’s hypothesis and are generally supportive of hypothesis that a fertility transition is occurring. HIV/AIDS is found to have a negative impact on fertility.

Keywords: fertility; health; Africa; poverty; infant mortality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J13 O10 O55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 29 pages
Date: 2008-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-dev and nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Published - published in: African Development Review, 2010, 22 (4), 540–555

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Journal Article: Fertility in Sub-Saharan African Countries with Consideration to Health and Poverty (2010)
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