Multiple Perspectives on Recent Trends in Unwanted Fertility in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The last four decades have witnessed large declines in fertility globally. This study uses data from 78 low- and middle-income countries to examine concurrent trends in unwanted fertility. Three measures of unwanted fertility are contrasted: the conventional unwanted total fertility rate, a proposed conditional unwanted fertility rate, and the percentage of births unwanted. Incidence of unwanted births and prevalence of exposure to unwanted births are both derived from answers to questions on prospective fertility preference, recognized as the most valid and reliable survey measure of preferences. Country-level trends are modeled both historically and with the decline in total fertility, with a focus on regional differentials. Results show that unwanted fertility rates—especially the conditional unwanted fertility rate—have declined substantially in recent decades. By contrast, the percentage of births unwanted has declined less, remaining stable or even increasing: from a birth cohort perspective, declines in unwanted fertility have been far more modest than the increased parental success in avoiding unwanted births. The regional patterns suggest that sub-Saharan Africa has several similarities with other major regions but also some peculiar features, including a recent stall in the decline of unwanted fertility that persists after controlling for the stage of fertility transition.

Total Demand, Use and Unmet Need for Modern Contraceptives Among Women Living in Informal Settlements in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, Uganda. Implications for Urban Health

Background: Update and utilization of modern contraceptives has public health benefits including reduction of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and related maternal mortality. However, paucity of evidence on key indicators of family planning in the informal settlements abounds. Data are usually collapsed within the larger urban communities that tend to mask peculiarities of informal settlements. This study determined the proportion of women using modern contraceptives, the unmet need for modern contraceptives and the total demand in informal settlements of an urban municipality.Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 626 women in the reproductive age (15–49 years) in the informal settlements of Kira municipality (part of metropolitan Kampala). Multi-stage sampling was applied in the selection of the respondents. Descriptive and log-binomial regression analysis were conducted to determine percentage of women using modern contraceptives, unmet need, and total demand with their associated factors. All analyses were conducted using STATA version 15.0.Results: The total demand for modern contraceptives was 84.9%, modern contraceptive prevalence was 47.4% nearly meeting the national target of 50%, however the unmet need was 37.3%, which much higher than the national target of 10%. Lower total demand for contraceptives was associated with higher women's education status and preference to have another child, while higher total demand was associated with having at least one living child. Higher modern contraceptives use was associated with older age, having at least one living child and high decision-making power, while lower modern contraceptives use was associated with higher education and undetermined fertility preference. Lower unmet need for modern contraceptives was associated with older age (PR 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48–0.97) and high decision-making power (PR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.50–0.81), while higher unmet need was found among those who having at least one living child (PR 1.40, 95% CI: 1.01–1.93) and undetermined fertility preference (PR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.24–2.34).Conclusions: Total demand and contraceptive use were found to be higher in the informal settlements of Kira municipality, however, the unmet need was much higher among this population as compared to the national urban estimates. This indicates a much higher demand for contraceptives and the need to consider the diverse socio-demographic characteristics of urban spaces. Development of Interventions need to critically consider the diverse urban space, associated explanatory variables and a collaborative systems lens to achieve sustained improvements.

Gender Equality but Never-Ending Inequity in FATA, Pakistan

Conventional wisdom in women development generally supports the link between acceptance of unequal gender norms, which is reflective of their work participation rate, and income gaps. While this link is intuitive in the literature, the presumed impact beyond merely women empowerment, including women's socio-economic development, while lacking sufficient evidence for the case of FATA (Pakistan). This inhand study devolves on the factors which may have promising impact towards women empowerment, consisting upon a sample data of 962 female from secondary data sources i.e. PDHS 2017-18. The disaggregated results confirm that women in FATA are less benefited as compared to men, particularly when it comes to financial status; affecting their household decision-making and adding miseries to their socio-economic conditions. Not only that, but the persistent gender gap in this region also shares a prominent link with their age, education, exposure to media, fertility preference, and employment status. Lastly, the study scientifically concludes that access to education and employment is the only enabling factor to women's empowerment and achievement towards their socio-economic goals. On the same hand, above much depends on the attitude of the people towards gender equality, which may require intensive social reforms to change their behaviors.

Individual and community level factors associated with unintended pregnancy among pregnant women in Ethiopia

Unintended pregnancy is among the major challenges of public health and a major reproductive health issue, due to its implications on the health, economic and social life of a woman and her family mainly in low and middle-income countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. The study aimed to assess unintended pregnancy and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia using multilevel analysis from the EDHS 2016. We used the data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, comprised of 1122 pregnant women. The prevalence of unintended pregnancy was determined through descriptive statistics and multilevel logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with unintended pregnancy. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 in the selected model were considered as significantly associated and an adjusted odds ratio was used to determine the strength and direction of the association. The prevalence of unintended pregnancy was 29.7% (CI 27.0%, 32.4%), of which 20.4% were mistimed and 9.3% unwanted. Being multi-para and fertility preference to have no more child were associated with a higher risk of unintended pregnancy whereas husbands' polygamy relation, having no women autonomy, and living in Afar and Somali regions showed a less likely risk of experiencing an unintended pregnancy. This study showed that the proportion of women who experienced unintended pregnancy is considerably high. Parity, fertility preference, polygamy relation, women autonomy, and region were identified factors associated with unintended pregnancy. Therefore, policymakers at all levels, reproductive health experts, and concerned organizations should emphasize minimizing unintended pregnancy targeting the regional variation at large. Researchers have to explore the regional variations through a qualitative study.

Predictors of underachieved and overachieved fertility among women with completed fertility in Ghana

Background A woman’s ability to achieve her preferred family size is critical in addressing issues of high fertility in sub-Saharan Africa. The socio-cultural context in sub-Saharan Africa presents some difficulty for the attainment of preferred fertility for many women. Few studies in sub-Saharan Africa have examined the extent to which women are unable to achieve their preferred family sizes. This study, therefore, examines the factors that are associated with the non-attainment of women’s preferred fertility by the end of their reproductive years. Data and methods The study analyzed pooled cross-sectional data with a sub-sample of 1,888 currently married women aged 45–49 years from five rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 1993 to 2014. Test of associations and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to examine the predictors of underachieved and overachieved fertility relative to achieved fertility. Results The results indicate that 44 per cent of the women recorded overachieved fertility while about 36 per cent underachieved their fertility. Partner wants more, experiencing child loss and married more than once were significantly associated with overachieved fertility. Nonetheless, increased years of a woman’s education and delaying her at first birth were negatively associated with overachieved fertility. On the other hand, underachieved fertility was significantly associated with having a partner with fewer fertility preference, being of the Islamic faith and ever use of modern contraception. Conclusion Partner’s fertility preference, child loss experience, marrying more than once and ever use of modern contraception were important predictors of a woman’s inability to achieve her fertility preference. Policies to regulate men’s fertility behaviour, delaying age at first birth, use of modern contraception, encouraging longer years of education, and reducing infant and child mortality are important strategies to achieve fertility preference in Ghana.

Variations in Desired Fertility Preferences among Young and Older Women in Nigeria: Evidence from Demographic Health Survey 2018

Background: Despite many countries of the world with fertility below replacement level, fertility rate in Nigeria remains high with contributing factors associated with high fertility preference and the desire for large families. Objectives: This paper explores variations in desired fertility preference among Nigerian women within the reproductive ages 15 to 49. It considers the impact of proximate factors of age, wealth, education, use of contraceptives, and other associated factors on fertility preference. Methods: Using Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2018) data, responses of 33924 women with children of 0-60months (birth recode file) were considered. Fertility preference is measured by “ideal no of children”. Responses from the dataset were coded into two groups (desire 1-4 children and desire more than 4 children) based on the implicit Four-child Policy of National Policy on Population for Development, Unity, Progress, and Self-reliance of 1988. We use descriptive statistics, logistic regression and cox proportional regression to identify the size and associating impacts of identified explanatory variables on the two groups. Results: Many Nigerian women desire more than four children, with ideal family desire of more than four children higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Wealthy and educated households have lower fertility preferences. Younger women within ages 15-29 tend to desire lower fertility but use fewer contraceptives than middle-aged women 30-49. Only 12% of Nigerian women within the reproductive ages use contraceptives. Conclusion: Educating younger women through community-based sensitization programs would reduce the desire for large family size and prevent unintended pregnancy.

Factors associated with decision making power of women to use family planning among married women in sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel analysis of demographic health surveys

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa there are several socio-economic and cultural factors which affect women’s ability to make decision regarding their own health including contraceptive usage. The main aim of this study was to determine factors associated with decision making power of women to use family planning in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods: The appended, most recent demographic and health survey datasets of 35 sub-Saharan countries were used. A total weighted sample of 83,882 women were included in the study. Both bivariable and multivariable multilevel logistic regression were done to determine the associated factors of decision making power of women to use family planning in SSA. The Odds Ratio (OR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was calculated for those potential variables included in the final model. Results: Those married women with primary education (AOR=1.24; CI:1.16,1.32),secondary education (AOR=1.31; CI:1.22,1.41), higher education (AOR=1.36; CI:1.20,1.53),media exposure(AOR=1.08; CI: 1.03, 1.13), currently working (AOR=1.27; CI: 1.20, 1.33), antenatal care visit of 1-3 (AOR=1.12; CI:1.05,1.20) and ≥ 4 ANC visit (AOR=1.14;CI:1.07,1.21), women who were informed about family planning (AOR=1.09; CI: 1.04, 1.15), women who had less than 3 children(AOR=1.12; CI: 1.02, 1.23) and 3-5 children (AOR=1.08; CI: 1.01, 1.16) had higher odds of decision making power to use family planning than their counter parts. Besides, mothers with age of 15-19 (AOR=0.61; CI: 0.52, 0.72), 20-24 (AOR= 0.69; CI: 0.60, 0.79), 25-29 (AOR=0.74; CI: 0.66, 0.84), and 30-34 years (AOR=0.82; CI: 0.73, 0.92) had reduced chance of decision making power of women to use family planning. Conclusion: Age, women’s level of education, occupation of women and their husband, wealth index, media exposure, ANC visit, fertility preference, husband’s desire number of children, region and information about family planning were factors associated with decision making power to use family planning among married women.

Sex-Composition of Living Children and Women’s Fertility Desire in Vietnam

Objective: To investigate the relationship between sex-composition of children and women’s fertility desire in Vietnam. Materials and methods: Using data from the 2014 Vietnam Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), we investigate the association between sex composition of children and desire for additional children among women in reproductive age (15 to 49 years) across Vietnam (N=5,605). Results: Multivariate logistic regression models showed statistically significant association between sex composition of children and women’s fertility desire, after controlling for social norms of fertility preference, demographic and socioeconomic factors. For each group of women (those with one child, two children, and three or more children) women with no sons are more likely to have higher fertility desire compared to women with at least one son. However, women with both son (s) and daughter (s) tend to have lower fertility desire compared to those who have all sons. Conclusion: Vietnam’s traditional cultural norm of son preference has a strong influence on fertility desire. Besides, mix-gender preference is also documented. The government should enforce the law more strictly regarding the prohibition of ultrasounds to detect fetal sex to reduce the feasibility of sex selection abortion. In addition, the government should improve the social ideology of the role of women in the family and society through mass media.