Page 8 - IJPS-9-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Reproductive transition of Ethiopian youths

et al., 2020; Dula, 2019). One of the most significant youths, a thorough understanding of the underlying causes
barriers is lack of access to education. Only 44.4% of is essential. As such, we base our work on the premise
Ethiopian women over the age of 15 are literate, compared that gender inequality in the timing of the reproductive
to 59.2% of men in 2017 (UNESCO, 2023). This not only transition is spanned by structural effects of covariates
limits their ability to participate in the workforce but also as well as differences in characteristics between male and
perpetuates a cycle of poverty and discrimination. Further, female youths.
women also lack of access to healthcare due to factors such
as poverty and limited knowledge about the importance 1.1. Theoretical grounding of the research
of healthcare including childbirth and contraceptive use. The life-course theory, which places developments
This leads to unplanned pregnancies and increased risk of in people’s lives in both personal characteristics and
maternal and child mortality (Jebena et al., 2022; Kitila et larger social contexts, served as the study’s overarching
al., 2023; Tamirat et al., 2020). theoretical framework. The theory posits that prior
In an attempt to alleviate the highly persistent gender and current life stages influence the trajectory of life
inequality, Ethiopia made a shift in policy thinking and experiences of individuals and families. Thus, in view of the
passed several legislations. One of the various initiatives life-course theory, the interplay between socioeconomic,
Ethiopia has undertaken is the family law, which advocates environmental, and behavioral factors are considered the
equal rights in the administration of the family and sets underlying drivers of trajectories over lifespan (Chen &
the minimum age for marriage at 18 (Federal Democratic Lin, 2011; Piccarreta & Studer, 2019). Such consideration of
Republic of Ethiopia, 2000). Early sexual initiation, child the interdependence between different stages of life enables
marriage, and adolescent birth rates all significantly the comparative study of the life-course experiences.
decreased when the law went into effect. The occurrence of Reproductive transition disparity in developing nations
the drop in both rural and urban places lends credence to can be related to a number of variables, including lack
the notion that strong legal frameworks for gender equality of access to education and healthcare and poverty. The
may operate as potent accelerators for cultural change previous reports indicated that educational attainment,
(Rokicki, 2021). household wealth, exposure to media, and economic
Despite the improvements scored in areas of adolescent reasons were the major factors that influenced the timing
and youth reproductive health, gender inequality remained of reproductive transitions of African young females
to be a significant challenge in Ethiopia. Early marriage (Usman et al., 2018; Wado et al., 2019). Socio-economic
is still prevalent, and adolescent girls often married off deprivation exacerbates reproductive transition inequality
before they are physically and emotionally mature (CSA by restricting access to essential resources and increasing
[Ethiopia] & ICF International, 2016). Child marriage the likelihood of early marriage and childbearing among
robs young girls of an education and puts them at risk of adolescents. Similarly, due to a lack of education, there
exploitation and pregnancy-related complications (Abera may be a lack of awareness about family planning and
et al., 2020). Thus, early marriage and parenthood serve reproductive health, resulting in an unmet need for
to reinforce traditional gender roles and expectations, contraception and unplanned childbirth (Munakampe
which perpetuates gender disparity. As a result of which, et al., 2021).
young girls’ agency and autonomy may be restricted, and With a better access to a healthcare, contraceptive
patriarchal beliefs and behaviors may be maintained. use becomes more widespread, leading to delayed
The reproductive behavior of youths is changing over childbearing and a longer interval between children. As a
time, and youths’ transition to family formation and result, women would have a better chance of maintaining
parenthood generally shifted from the traditional pattern their health and avoiding complications that can arise
and followed a variety of patterns in Ethiopia. In a recent from too many pregnancies close together. Moreover, by
study, sex was noted as a significant element that led delaying the first birth, young women have a higher chance
to the disparities in the reproductive trajectories of the to complete their education and gain employment, leading
youth in Ethiopia (Dejene & Gurmu, 2022). Even though to greater opportunities in life (Diez et al., 2020; Stevenson
there was a large body of literature that studied the issue et al., 2021). Overall, contraception can aid in removing
of early marriage and parenthood among young females obstacles to education and raising chances for success by
(Blum, 2007; Koski et al., 2017; Nguyen & Wodon, 2015; lowering unintended pregnancies and giving women the
Wado et al., 2019), the driving forces of the gender gap power to make decisions about their life.
were not well studied. To shrink and/or eliminate the In addition, after controlling for individual
gender gap in the timing of the reproductive transition of characteristics, a study from West Africa reported that

Volume 9 Issue 2 (2023) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.476