Economic conditions, employment and urban fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa: An event history analysis of parity progression to third and to four birth among men and women at Accra, Dakar and Kinshasa

Felly Kinziunga, Université de Kinshasa

25 years after the ICPD, few studies have integrated men to understand and explain fertility and its evolution in African cities. And of the explanatory factors used, individual economic welfare remains outside the scope of most studies. This paper examines the influences of economic well-being on parity progression. Looking at the biographical data collected in 2008 in Dakar and 2009 in Kinshasa and Accra, it appears that the probability of family enlargement is declining and this change is pronounced among peoples that have at least 3 children. The analyses show that the determinants of fertility differ between men and women and between cities. The transition from one parity to another among women is associated with their activity status while economic comfort affects male reproductive life.