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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Policy Implications of the Variations in Ghana's Fertility Transition |
Author: | Badasu, Delali |
Year: | 2003 |
Periodical: | Research Review (ISSN 0855-4412) |
Volume: | 19 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 1-13 |
Language: | English |
Notes: | biblio. refs., maps |
Geographic terms: | Ghana West Africa |
Subjects: | population policy family planning fertility Fertility and Infertility Health, Nutrition, and Medicine Demographics Family Planning and Contraception demography Demographic surveys |
Abstract: | Although the earliest fertility decline in Ghana was observed at the time of the 1979/1980 Ghana Fertility Survey, it was the results of three consecutive Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS) carried out in 1986, 1993 and 1998 which indicated that the population had begun to experience fertility transition. The results of the surveys also showed significant differentials in fertility change among geographical entities as well as socioeconomic subgroups of the population. The present paper discusses the patterns and trends in these variations, which appear to be caused by disparities in socieoeconomic development (urbanization and education, particularly of mothers) and health status of the population. The paper shows how this poses challenges to Ghana's socioeconomic development policy and its family planning/reproductive health policies and programmes. It recommends equitable principles in development policy formulation and implementation. Furthermore, it stresses that better understanding of the differentials in fertility transition requires data on smaller geographical units and more socioeconomic subgroups as well as qualitative approaches to data collection on fertility and related demographic issues. Bibliogr., notes, sum. [ASC Leiden abstract] |