The Effect of Contraceptive Practice on Fertility in Ghana: A Decade of Experience

Authors

  • Kwame Boadu Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, Edmonton Alberta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25336/P6D60S

Abstract

This study examines some factors that influence fertility behaviour in Ghana, with particular emphasis on the influence of contraception as an intermediate variable. The decade examined covers the period 1988 to 1998 and the factors analyzed are age, residence, education, religion and ethnicity. Employing multivariate regression analysis and path models, the study observes that among all the factors, age is the only variable that6 has a moderate effect on fertility. Also of significant interest is that the positive influence of contraceptive use on fertility in 1988 is reversed in 1998. The study notes that given the non—significant effects obtained save the moderate effect of age, it is not possible to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the impact that any of these factors might have contributed to the observed reduction in fertility during the period. In light of this, the study recommends that more effort would be required if fertility is to be reduced substantially. Nonetheless, the reversal in the effect of contraceptive use between the two periods is seen as encouraging.

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Published

2002-12-31

Issue

Vol:29 No.2 (2002)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2019 Kwame Boadu

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