The fertility transition in Ghana, Kenya, and Senegal: Comparing effects of ideation-diffusion and economic indicators

This research aimed to assess the effects of economic status (ES), ideation and social interaction regarding family planning on fertility levels, fertility change, and women's fertility intentions in Ghana, Kenya and Senegal. Specifically, it aimed to determine (a) the relative effects of ES and ideation regarding family planning on fertility levels and change, (b) the effects of ES and ideation regarding family planning on married women's fertility intentions, and (c) the effects of fertility intentions, ES, and social interactions on subsequent pregnancy or birth within a two and half year period. The first two aims used Demographic and Health Survey data collected in the three countries, and the third aim used a longitudinal data collected in six communities of southern Ghana. The research is conducted within the framework of socio-economic and ideation-diffusion theories.; It showed that in the three countries, ideation-diffusion of family planning has produced significant decline in fertility across ethnic groups, regardless of ES. This latter factor remained however the most important determinant of fertility across geographic clusters. At individual level, the research showed that, compared to ES, ideation had stronger and positive effects on married women's intention to delay or stop childbearing in Kenya and Senegal. Effects of ES on women's fertility intentions were mostly attenuated by ideation in the three countries.; In southern Ghana, it appeared that married women of parity five or more who intended to stop childbearing were significantly more likely to limit their fertility than their counterparts who intended to have another child. However, among women of parity four or lower, no significant relationship was observed between fertility intentions and fertility. In addition, while ES was a determinant of fertility limitation among women of high parity, it had no effect among women of lower parity. In the latter group, social interaction regarding family planning was the most significant factor of fertility limitation, while it had not effect in the former.; The research suggested that family planning interventions should be reinforced and strategies that generate formal and informal discussion about family planning and social networks should be privileged.