Abstract
The pace of decline in fertility rates in sub-Saharan Africa appears to have slowed or stalled in the last few decades. This study examines the socioeconomic associated with cumulative fertility in Ghana. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate determinants of cumulative fertility using data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys of 2003, 2008, and 2014. The composition of children ever born by women did not change considerably over the study periods. Socioeconomic disparities in educational attainment, household wealth, employment, and employer status are significantly associated with cumulative fertility risks in Ghana. The current age of women, age at sexual debut, and marital status, among others, are also linked to cumulative fertility levels. Place and region of residence are also linked to fertility in Ghana. Cumulative fertility levels in Ghana are underscored by considerable socioeconomic disparities among women of reproductive age. Fertility regulation policies should hinge on improving the socio-economic wellbeing of women in Ghana.
Highlights
Fertility is one of the three main components of population dynamics that shape the size, structure, and composition of the human population
For the past few decades, world fertility decline has gained momentum, reaching historically low rates between 2010 and 2015 [1], and this trend is expected to continue until only a few countries have high fertility rates [2]
Recent evidence shows that ongoing fertility declines have slowed or stalled in many countries in transition in sub-Saharan Africa [3,4]
Summary
Fertility is one of the three main components of population dynamics that shape the size, structure, and composition of the human population. Fertility remained at relatively high rates (more than 3.5 births per woman) between 2010 and 2015 in about 42 countries in Africa [1]. In Ghana, fertility has declined slowly from 6.4 children per woman in 1988 to 4.2 children per woman in 2014 [5], a drop of just about two births per woman over twenty-six years, while evidence from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) shows that total fertility has reduced to 3.9 [6]. The 1994 National Population Policy of Ghana sought to reduce the total fertility rate from 5.5 to 3.0 by 2020 [7]. Per the rate of decline, it is not surprising that the total fertility rate target of 3.0 per woman stipulated by the National
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