FERTILITY AND CULTURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA - A REVIEW

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest levels of fertility in the world. T he reasons for the high and persistent fertility are cultural. For ins tance, under the patriarchal system - which is prevalent in most of su b-Saharan Africa - the emphasis is on family and descent. Consequently , the role of women is one of nurturers and bearers of children. In or der to achieve this objective, women are led into marriage and exchang ed for bridewealth at an early age, and they must strive for higher fe rtility to enhance their status and respect. Childlessness is seen as a curse, so women who are childless run the risk of being stigmatized and accused of witchcraft. Other mechanisms used to sustain high ferti lity are polygyny, the levirate and child fostering. Thus, it is argue d here that fertility decline in this region will take several more ge nerations unless the perceptions, belief systems and traditions underg o radical changes coupled with improvements in the status of women. Se veral options are suggested; for example, there is a greater need for more education for women, an increase in their labour force participat ion in the modern sectors of the economy, an abolition of the bridewea lth, a greater say in family size decisions and the use of modern cont raception.