Unveiling youth fertility aspirations: The role of gender attitudes in sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract
High fertility preferences and strong socio-cultural norms around gender and family slow fertility transitions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We examine how gender attitudes shape fertility preferences among youth aged 15-24 using Demographic and Health Survey data from 10 high-fertility SSA countries (total fertility rate ≥5 in 2015-20). We conduct pooled and country-specific negative binomial regressions separately for men and women, relating attitudes towards wife beating and gender preferences for children to the ideal number of children. Tolerance of wife beating is associated with 7% higher desired fertility for both men and women (IRR=1.07, p
Fields of Study & Subjects
Global Maternal and Child Health
Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences
Family Dynamics and Relationships
Publication details
- Journal / source
- African Journal of Reproductive Health
- Publisher
- African Journal of Reproductive Health (AJRH)
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 13–39
- Publication date
- 28 January 2026
- Language
- EN