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Fertility in Botswana: the recent decline and future prospects
1Futures Group, Washington, DC 20036.
Demography
|May 1, 1993
Summary
Fertility in Botswana declined by approximately one birth per woman in the 1980s due to drought and improved family planning access. Fertility showed signs of rebound with improved conditions and drought relief efforts.
Area of Science:
- Demography
- Public Health
- African Studies
Background:
- Recent estimates indicated a rapid fertility decline in Botswana during the 1980s.
- Socioeconomic factors, including drought, and family planning services influenced fertility trends.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate baseline fertility estimates in Botswana.
- To analyze the drivers of fertility decline and subsequent rebound during the 1980s.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fertility trends in Botswana from 1981 to the late 1980s.
- Correlation of fertility changes with drought conditions, economic factors, and family planning program expansion.
Main Results:
- Baseline fertility estimates may have been overestimated; however, a decline of about one birth per woman occurred in the 1980s.
- Fertility decline was associated with drought-induced socioeconomic deterioration and increased family planning availability.
- A fertility rebound was observed in the late 1980s, linked to improved conditions from drought relief programs.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights the complex interplay of socioeconomic conditions and family planning interventions on fertility.
- Continued success of family planning programs, especially in rural Botswana, is crucial for future fertility reduction.