MARRIAGE TYPE AND REPRODUCTIVE DECISIONS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

The effect of marriage type-polygamy versus monogamy-on reproductive d ecisions is investigated using comparative data from the 1988, 1989. a nd 1993 Demographic and Health Surveys of Ghana and Kenya. The data pr ovide no consistent support for-the hypothesized negative effect of po lygamy on women's ability to implement their fertility preferences. Ra ther; there appears to be some evidence of a stronger female influence , particularly in the polygamous 1989 Kenya sample, and a weak male ad vantage is discernible primarily in the monogamous samples.