Page 155 - IJPS-11-5

International Journal of
Population Studies Contraception and fertility in Zambia

and legitimize the provision and utilization of FP and workforce, and make educated choices regarding their
reproductive healthcare services, which aim to enhance reproductive health rights (Ahmed et al., 2019; Anderson
the adoption of various contraceptive modalities, including & Leah, 2019).
oral contraceptives, implants, injectables, intrauterine To mitigate the negative effects of rapid population
devices, and condoms (Karra et al., 2017; Lenze & Klasen, increase, the government of Zambia and many other
2017; Odimegwu et al., 2023). governments in SSA and international organizations have
In the context of SSA, the implications of fertility been actively supporting and pushing FP interventions to
patterns on developmental processes and the strategic increase access to and utilization among women (Ahmed
decisions concerning interventions to counter adverse et al., 2019; Ministry of National Development Planning,
population trends have consistently garnered significant 2019). Various efforts have been made to implement
attention within the realm of demographic scholarship FP programs. These include major public campaigns to
(Mberu & Ezeh, 2017). Hence, there has been a notable promote FP, improve service quality, and increase access
focus on SRH policies and initiatives to bolster FP efforts in to FP services. Population growth rates that have been
SSA. An exemplary instance of this is the endorsement of declining in most SSA counties over the past few decades
the 2006 Maputo Program of Action by 48 member states (Mberu & Ezeh, 2017) could be attributed to the successful
of the African Union. This strategic framework aimed to investment in FP programs, which contributed to
advance the widespread availability of reproductive health improved access to contraceptive services, hence reducing
services across African nations by 2015. total fertility rates.
The 2006 Maputo Program of Action introduced a Between 1992 and 2018, Zambia consistently recorded
range of measures aimed at improving SRH across Africa, a steady increase in contraceptive usage, surging from
including expanding access to FP services, reducing 14.2% to 49.6% (Zambia Statistics Agency et al., 2019).
maternal and child mortality, and addressing unsafe Concurrently, there was a decrease in the total fertility rate
abortions. These measures focused on strengthening from 6.2 offspring per female to 4.7 offspring per female of
each country’s healthcare systems through increasing reproductive age (Zambia Statistics Agency et al., 2019).
funding for reproductive health programs and fostering Furthermore, teenage pregnancy rates declined from
partnerships among governments, civil society, and 33.8% in 1992 to 29.2% in 2018 (Phiri et al., 2023; Zambia
international organizations. The intended impacts of Statistics Agency et al., 2019).
such interventions were to enhance health outcomes, Despite this evidence, studies of fertility in Zambia
promote gender equality, and accelerate progress toward have paid less attention to examining the contribution of
achieving the Millennium Development Goals related to contraceptive use to fertility dynamics. This is in contrast
health and development in the region (The African Union to empirical evidence from other SSA countries and
Commission, 2016; United Nations, 2022). beyond, where increased contraceptive use has been shown
Existing studies show that contraceptive transition, to significantly contribute to fertility decline. Our study,
which is defined as changes in the prevalence of therefore, examined the association between contraceptive
contraceptive methods used among women over time, transition and fertility dynamics in Zambia. The results of
has occurred in most countries in SSA (Beguy et al., this study provide insights that can guide the development
2017; Kalinda et al., 2022; Phiri et al., 2024; Yussuf et al., of reproductive health initiatives and interventions for
2020). Furthermore, studies have documented the effect sustainable management of the country’s population and
of contraceptive transition on fertility decline in SSA contribute to ongoing efforts to address high fertility rates
and elsewhere, revealing that increased contraceptive use in SSA countries.
has positively contributed to fertility reduction (Ariho
& Kabagenyi, 2020; Bongaarts, 2017; Bongaarts, 2020; 1.1. Theoretical framework
Garenne, 2018; May, 2017; Sarnak et al., 2021). Literature In theory, the effect of contraceptive utilization transition
suggests that women who have access to and utilize on the dynamics of fertility can be comprehended through
contraception have more control over their reproductive the theoretical foundations of the classical demographic
options. Contraceptives have made it easy for women or transition theory and Easterlin’s economic framework of
couples to delay or plan their pregnancies to reduce family fertility. These two theories provide valuable insights for
sizes by preventing unplanned pregnancies (Bongaarts, understanding the intricate factors that influence fertility
2017; Masiano et al., 2019; Nanvubya et al., 2022). dynamics in SSA. The classical demographic transition
Contraceptives have also given women more freedom theory was first put forth by Warren Thompson in 1929,
by enabling them to further their education, enter the and Frank W. Notestein later made improvements in

Volume 11 Issue 5 (2025) 149 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.4866