War and reproduction: Angola's fertility in comparative perspective

For four decades, Angola has experienced war, which has inevitably influenc e the country's social development. The intensity and geographical spread o f the war has fluctuated over that period. This paper examines fertility an d other relevant socio-demographic characteristics in Angola and attempts t o relate them to is protracted civil conflict. To situate Angola's fertilit y in the sub-Saharan context, comparisons are made with a selection of othe r African countries. The analysis paints a picture of a generally pre-trans itional society characterised by an early start of childbearing, high ferti lity and a contraceptive prevalence that is among the lowest in Africa. Ang ola also trails behind most of the sub-continent in childhood mortality and maternal care indicators. The available data suggest that Angola's fertili ty drops when hostiles peak and rebounds in the periods of relative peacefu lness, and thar these fluctuations are stronger in regions more affected by the fighting than in less affected ones. However, there is no indication t hat the war has inhibiting effect on any improvements in social welfare tha t might otherwise have encouraged some fertility decline.