Abstract

The significant incidence of early fertility in Benin and its impact on the life of adolescents, as well as the growth of the country's population, is the problem underlying this project. It will be undertaken by the Direction de la statistique and will use the data produced by the Benin Fertility Survey. Its purpose is to produce explanatory information on the teenage fertility phenomenon, specifically on its level, rates of change, trends, etc. Such information is then to be used in population projections, and will also serve the authorities searching for solutions to the early fertility problem. The project should create a collaboration network between different government departments and the Direction de la statistique as well as with other countries participating in the IDRC seminars.

Post-Project Summary

The project was part of a network of seven projects subsidized by IDRC focusing on adolescent fertility in West and Central Africa (86-0326, 86-0327, 86-0335, 87-0150, 87-0159, and 87-0176). Data originating from the fertility survey conducted in Benin in 1982 and from the complementary survey on adolescent fertility conducted in 1988 were analyzed. Researchers observed a decrease in the fertility rate of 173 births per thousand for women currently between 30-34 years of age when they were between 15-19 years of age to 138 births per thousand for women currently between 20-24 years of age when they were between 15-19 years of age. The data also made it possible to observe that the infant survival rate for the first birth was lower for women who gave birth before the age of 20 than for women who had their first child after the age of 20. Concerning the impact of pregnancy on the 9% of adolescent females who became pregnant while attending school, 53.5% gave up school completely whereas a further 17.9% interrupted their studies. A national seminar made it possible for researchers and data users to collaborate, including certain branches of the government.

Recipient Institution(s)