Determinants of high fertility in Uganda: Microeconomic Evidence
| Author(s): | doc. PhDr. Michal Bauer Ph.D., Julie Chytilová, Pavel Streblov |
|---|---|
| Type: | Articles in refereed journals |
| Year: | 2007 |
| Number: | 0 |
| ISSN / ISBN: | 0011-8265 |
| Published in: | Demografie n.2, pp. 108-116 |
| Publishing place: | Praha |
| Keywords: | economic development, sub-Saharan Africa, fertility, education |
| JEL codes: | O12, O18, O55 |
| Suggested Citation: | |
| Grants: | IES Research Framework Institutional task (2005-2011) Integration of the Czech economy into European union and its development |
| Abstract: | High desired fertility is an important factor contributing to the population explosion in sub-Saharan Africa. On a broad sample of 856 respondents from the rural areas of Uganda this paper assesses the impact of health risks, economic contributions from children, traditional community institutions and unequal position of women on desired fertility levels. The paper further scrutinizes how these determinants are affected by education. The results show that fear of diseases and involvement in traditional clan institutions increase desired number of children. Interestingly, these effects can be remarkably mitigated through education that improves the individual health prevention as well as reduces the influence of clans. Economic incentives for having children seem to be less significant than other factors. In addition, a very significant difference in desired fertility between men and women emerges, nevertheless education leads both to reduction and convergence of desired fertility. All these findings suggest that education stimulates a complex change in fertility preferences and underline the importance of education as efficient tool for reducing rapid population growth. |
