“My Mother Persuaded Me to Have More Children”, Understanding the Influence of Social Network on Fertility Behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa

Stephen Okechukwu Chukwudeh () and Akpovire Oduaran
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Stephen Okechukwu Chukwudeh: Department of Criminology and Security Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti 371104, Nigeria
Akpovire Oduaran: Community-Based Educational Research (COMBER) Entity, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 4, 1-9

Abstract: Introduction: Despite the adoption of an antenatal demographic transition model in sub-Saharan Africa, population growth continues to soar in the region. The reasons for population growth are nebulous and should be approached from different perspectives. Inadequate attention has been paid to how social pressures shape reproductive behavior. Thus, this study examines the association between social networks and fertility behavior in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design that employed a qualitative method to conduct 28 in-depth interviews among married women. Data was collected in 2023. Thematic analyses were utilized to interpret the results. Results: Parental pressure, the desire for more children, the desire for male children, values placed on children, norms, and pronatalist culture were associated with high fertility in sub-Saharan Africa. Conclusions: Thus, there is a need for more awareness of family planning and contraceptive use in order to reduce fertility in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: children; fertility; mothers; population growth; sub-Saharan Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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