Abstract
Background: Despite the increasing interest in improving access to and utilization of family planning (FP) methods, contraceptives prevalence rates remain low in Benin, and its benefits are not well studied. This study projected FP's benefits for maternal health and child survival over the Sustainable Development Goals period. Methods: The Demographic Dividend Model created by the Health Policy Project using a large range of data was applied based exclusively on assumptions on FP policy options between 2015 and 2030. Results: It was found that, under the base scenario with no improvements in FP, education and economic variables, however unrealistic, the number of children per Beninese woman would be the same in 2030 as it was in 2015 - about 4.5 children per woman. Benin's age structure would remain very young and be dominated by dependents. But, FP-scenarios of improvements in contraceptive variables alone showed a negative and linear relationship between FP use and maternal and child deaths. Under the optimistic scenario, increasing access to and use of FP alone from 7.9% (2015) to 33.95% (2030) will save lives of about 200,000 under five year children and 10,000 mothers by 2030. In addition, the average number of children per woman will fall to 3.5 increasing female life expectancy by 5 years. Benin's age structure will be balanced with more working age people. The country will also record an increase in its human development indicator. Conclusion: To accelerate progresses towards improvement of maternal health and child survival, and get on track in meeting related health targets of SDGs, the present study revealed the importance of strengthening actions toward access to and use of FP in Benin Republic. There is also a need to strengthen education and economic policies to successfully harness the demographic dividend.
Highlights
Despite the increasing interest in improving access to and utilization of family planning (FP) methods, contraceptives prevalence rates remain low in Benin, and its benefits are not well studied
Overview of Demographic Dividend Model (DemDiv) model The demographic dividend is a temporary opportunity for faster economic growth that begins when fertility rates fall, leading to a larger proportion of working-age adults and fewer young dependents (Gribble & Bremner, 2012; NCPD & Health Policy Project (HPP), 2014)
Even with the focus of family planning sector alone, the modelling exercise provided benefits of family planning use as those underlying more sectors highlighted in other settings (NCPD & HPP, 2014; Uganda National Planning Authority, 2014; Vlassoff et al, 2014)
Summary
Despite the increasing interest in improving access to and utilization of family planning (FP) methods, contraceptives prevalence rates remain low in Benin, and its benefits are not well studied. Planning use has been recognized as a tool for population growth control and a working tool allowing women to control their own reproduction and become more economically active This is especially relevant in sub-Saharan Africa where population growth, the number of births per woman, and maternal and infant mortality are higher than elsewhere around the globe. With an overall decrease of 29.7% in 15 years, maternal mortality ratio has decreased from 576 to 405 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births over the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) time (between 1990 and 2015) (WHO et al, 2015) in Benin. The neonatal mortality rate fell from 36 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990, to 19 in 2015 and was higher in Benin. Primary schooling rate (6 – 11 years, net) was 56.9 %, and secondary schooling rate (12 – 19 years, net) was 37.4 % (INSAE, 2016)
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