Abstract
The rapid population growth of many African cities has important implications for population health, yet little is known about factors contributing to increasing population, such as the fertility of internal migrants. We examine whether in-migrants to Kinshasa have different fertility patterns than lifetime Kinshasa residents, and identify characteristics of migrants that may explain differences in fertility. We also use detailed migration histories to examine whether fertility differs by features of migration. We use representative data from the PMA2020 Project for 2197 women in Kinshasa, including 340 women who moved to Kinshasa. We examine differences between migrants and non-migrants in fertility and other fertility-related characteristics. We also examine whether fertility differs by duration of residence in Kinshasa, number of lifetime moves, age at first migration, urban/rural classification of birthplace, and the distinction between intra-Kinshasa migration and migration to Kinshasa.. Migrants have significantly higher fertility than permanent Kinshasa residents, but the difference is relatively small in magnitude. This higher fertility appears due in part to patterns of contraceptive use among migrants. There is noteworthy heterogeneity among migrants: higher fertility among migrants is associated with longer duration in Kinshasa, more lifetime moves, urban-Kinshasa migration, older age at first migration, and moving to Kinshasa from outside (as opposed to intra-Kinshasa migration).
Highlights
The rapid urbanization of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has important implications for health in the region
While there are no significant differences in fertility between non-migrants and migrants born in rural areas, we find significantly higher fertility for migrants born in other urban areas who later moved to
We find that migrants have significantly higher fertility than permanent Kinshasa residents
Summary
The rapid urbanization of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has important implications for health in the region. Access to health services in cities is typically better than rural areas in SSA, access is still limited to some, the economically disadvantaged (Matthews et al 2010). Little is known about factors contributing to increasing urban population, such as the fertility of internal migrants to cities in sub-Saharan Africa. The capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kinshasa, is one of the world’s “megacities.” With a population of over 11 million, Kinshasa is Africa's third largest city (after Lagos and Cairo) and one of the continent’s most rapidly growing urban areas (United Nations 2015a). By 2020, Kinshasa is projected to add four million new inhabitants, making it Africa’s fastest-growing city (UN-Habitat 2010).
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