Title: Biological and behavioral determinants of exceptional fertility levels in Africa and West Asia.

POPLINE Document Number: 076947

Author(s):

Bongaarts J
Frank O

Source citation:

In: African Population Conference/Congres Africain de Population, Dakar, Senegal, November/novembre 7-12, 1988. Liege, Belgium, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population [IUSSP], 1988. :2.1.1-13.

Abstract:

"Countries with fertility rates well above the levels expected on the basis of their contraceptive prevalence rates include Kenya, Rwanda and Zimbabwe in sub-Saharan Africa, and Jordan..., Syria and Yemen...in West Asia, whereas a notable example of a country with low fertility in Africa is Gabon. The present analysis of the behavioral and biological proximate determinants of natural fertility--breastfeeding, abstinence, marriage and infertility--yields insights into these exceptional cases, and underscores the relevance of variables other than contraceptive use in interpreting levels and trends of fertility, particularly in countries in the early phases of the fertility transition." (EXCERPT)

Keywords:

Kenya
Zimbabwe
Rwanda
Jordan
Yemen
Gabon
Syria
Fertility Determinants
Differential Fertility
Fertility Rate
Biological Characteristics
Behavior
Contraception
Contraceptive Prevalence Index
Comparative Studies
High Fertility Population
Contraceptive Usage
Reproductive Behavior
Low Fertility Population
Intermediate Variables
Fertility Measurements
Natural Fertility
Abstinence
Breastfeeding
Marriage
Infertility
Demographic Transition
Developing Countries
Africa, Eastern
Africa South of the Sahara
Africa
Africa, Southern
Africa, Central
Middle East
Africa, Western
Fertility
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Birth Rate
Biology
Family Planning
Contraceptive Prevalence
Studies
Research Methodology
Family Planning, Behavioral Methods
Infant Nutrition
Nutrition
Health
Nuptiality
Reproduction