Page 147 - IJPS-11-5

International Journal of
Population Studies Fertility desire of married women

use, in Tanzania, women who were using contraceptives countries. Many prior studies on fertility preferences in
had higher reports of desire to limit childbearing (34.5%). SSA focused on examining factors that influence the desire
Women who indicated having six or more living children to have additional children among married women. The
were more likely to have the desire to limit childbearing in study found differing results in terms of the prevalence and
all the countries: Gabon (80.2%), Mali (65.1%), Tanzania drivers of the desire to limit childbearing across different
(71.8%), and Zambia (86.8%). countries examined. Mali had the lowest proportion of
women willing to limit childbearing, whereas Zambia
3.3. Determinants of desire to limit childbearing
had the highest. These differences could be explained by
Table 3 shows the AORs of the multivariable logistic heterogeneity in social, economic, and cultural norms
regression examining the association between independent across SSA countries (Adhikari, 2010; Muhoza, 2019;
correlates and desire to limit childbearing in the four SSA Nibaruta et al., 2023; Wildeman et al., 2023). In Mali,
countries (Gabon, Mali, Tanzania, and Zambia). Results traditional views often emphasize large families, with
show that in all four countries, as the age of a woman children seen as a source of social and economic support.
increased, the likelihood of the desire to limit childbearing Understanding the factors that explain women’s desire
increased. Women in the age group 35 – 49 years in Gabon to limit childbearing is crucial for designing effective
(aOR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.80 – 3.60), in Mali (aOR = 17.97; family planning programs and policies that address
95% CI: 12.28 – 26.30), Tanzania (aOR = 7.19; 95% CI: women’s reproductive health needs, promote autonomy,
5.25 – 9.83), and Zambia (aOR = 5.84; 95% CI: 4.51 – 7.56) and support informed decision-making on high fertility
were more likely to have the desire to limit childbearing levels in SSA. To achieve this, we examined four countries
compared to those in the age group 15 – 19 years. that have been reported to have high fertility rates in SSA
In Zambia, women who were residing in rural areas (Bongaarts, 2020; Casterline & Agyei-Mensah, 2017; Tesfa
(aOR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.58 – 0.92) had lower odds of et al., 2023).
the desire to limit childbearing than their counterparts Results show that older married women were more
living in urban areas. As expected, increasing parity was likely to limit childbearing in Gabon, Tanzania, Zambia,
significantly associated with a high likelihood of the desire and Mali compared to young women. Similar findings
to limit childbearing in all four countries. Women with have been reported in prior studies conducted in
parity 1 – 2, in Gabon (aOR = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.08 – 0.14), in Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Mozambique
Mali (aOR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.11 – 0.19), in Tanzania (aOR (Babalola et al., 2017). These findings align with broader
= 0.08; 95% CI: 0.06 – 0.10), and in Zambia (aOR = 0.07; demographic trends where age plays a significant role in
95% CI: 0.06 – 0.09), had lower odds of the desire to limit reproductive choices (Teshale et al., 2022). As women age,
childbearing compared to those with parity of five or more. they are more likely to have achieved their desired family

Regarding household wealth status, married women in size and may prioritize economic stability, health, and
Zambia who belonged to households classified as rich were child-rearing responsibilities over further childbearing
significantly more likely to limit childbearing compared to (Casterline, 2017). In contrast, another study in SSA has
those who belonged to poor households (aOR = 1.62; 95% CI: reviewed that young women often intend to limit their
1.28 – 2.05). Similarly, women who were working in Gabon births, contrary to the assumption that only older women
(aOR = 1.06; 95% CI: 0.89 – 1.28) had higher odds of the do (Van Lith et al., 2013). In addition, older women may
desire to limit childbearing compared to those not working. have greater access to family planning information and

In Mali and Tanzania, married women who had services, enabling them to make informed decisions about
access to family planning information were significantly limiting fertility (Casterline, 2017). The findings suggest
associated with the desire to limit childbearing (aOR = 0.76; the need to strengthen access to and utilization of family
95% CI: 0.60 – 0.95 and aOR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.12 – 1.48, planning services in SSA countries with high fertility,
respectively). In regard to the husband’s desire for children, especially among older women, to enable them to attain
in Tanzania (aOR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.51 – 0.90), women their reproductive health goals.
who had husbands wanting a few children had lower odds Our study found that married women in Mali who were
of the desire to limit childbearing compared to those who living in rural areas were highly likely to limit childbearing
reported having husbands who wanted more children. compared to those living in urban areas. Married women
living in rural areas in Mali may be more inclined to limit
4. Discussion childbearing due to the economic pressures and resource

This study sought to examine determinants of the desire constraints typically associated with rural living. Larger
to limit childbearing among married women in SSA families can pose a challenge in rural settings where access

Volume 11 Issue 5 (2025) 141 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.5584