Unravelling the interplay between economic empowerment, gender equality, and desire for additional children among married women in sub-Saharan Africa: a confirmatory factor analysis approach

Bwalya Bupe Bwalya (), Clifford Odimegwu (), Makala Lukuni () and Chabila Christopher Mapoma ()
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Bwalya Bupe Bwalya: Department of Economics, School of Social Sciences, Mulungushi University
Clifford Odimegwu: Demography and Population Studies Programme, Schools of Public Health and Social Sciences, University of Witwatersrand
Makala Lukuni: Department of Economics, School of Social Sciences, Mulungushi University
Chabila Christopher Mapoma: Department of Demography, Population Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zambia

Journal of Population Research, 2025, vol. 42, issue 3, No 4, 25 pages

Abstract: Abstract Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to grapple with high fertility, often linked to women’s fertility desire for more children. However, this desire can be impacted by low economic empowerment and prevailing gender inequalities. Therefore, this study aimed at understanding how these two factors influence the desire for additional children in the region. This study analysed pooled weighted Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data (2015–2022) from 167,462 women across 23 SSA countries. Descriptive statistics characterised the sample and bivariate analyses explored variable relationships. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses identified and validated latent constructs of economic empowerment and gender equality. Structural equation modelling assessed the direct and indirect effects of these constructs on women’s desire for additional children. The study revealed that 62.5% of married women in the 23 SSA countries desired additional children, with a higher desire in Western and Central Africa (68.5% and 66.8%) compared to East and Southern Africa (53.5% and 52.6%). Besides, all indicators significantly loaded onto their constructs (p

Keywords: Desire for additional children; Reproductive health; Economic empowerment; Gender equality; Confirmatory factor analysis; Sub-Saharan Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s12546-025-09386-x

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