Fertility Transition in Dakar, Nairobi, and Ouagadougou Since the 1970s: A Similar Decline at All Ages?

Roch Millogo
Clementine Rossier, Université de Genève

The pattern of the African fertility decline remains in debate: while some researchers expect a transition similar to the declines in Europe, Latin America and Asia, where limitation practices and long-acting methods played a major role, others believe that the African transition will be different. This paper places itself in this debate: it aims to test Caldwell's prediction that African fertility declines will occur similarly at all ages, by the adoption of modern contraceptives also at all ages. We look at Dakar, Nairobi and Ouagadougou, three African urban contexts of relatively low fertility, where women have around three children in 2010-2015, using data available for these cities since the early 1970s. Caldwell et al.’s hypothesis that African fertility transitions will be characterized by similar fertility reductions at all ages is confirmed for these three cities, but contraception has not been the main strategy to expand the avoidance of childbearing in all cities and at all ages.

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 Presented in Session 1. Fertility, Family Planning, Sexual Behavior, & Reproductive Health 1