Abstract

This project will carry out a detailed psychosocial study on fertility-related adolescent behaviour in Mali. Researchers will measure the level and tendency of fertility and the social, economic and psychosocial conditions that cause precocious fertility. An assessment of the youths' family planning knowledge is also intended. The results will help government departments and NGOs formulate proposals for concrete government measures on youth fertility through contraceptives, social and family planning, and the inclusion of traditional values in the new family education programs. The project is undertaken within the network of ten African countries South of the Sahara, all preoccupied with the phenomenon of precocious fertility which contributes substantially to their respective rates of population growth.

Post-Project Summary

The project was part of a network of seven projects subsidized by IDRC dealing with adolescent fertility in West and Central Africa (86-0326, 86-0327, 86-0335, 87-0150, 87-0159 and 87-0176). According to the demographics and health survey of 1987 in Mali, the percentage of adolescent mothers was 27% of the whole. The researchers investigated adolescent attitudes towards maternity and marriage, their knowledge of their rights, etc. The methods used were semi-directed interviews and groups discussions. An analysis of the content of the interviews/discussions showed that 90% of the adolescents were familiar with traditional initiation rites, although boys appeared less informed about sexual taboos; traditional contraceptive methods were not well known; 70% of the adolescents wished to have "many" children; a large majority were against abortion; and two-thirds of the boys questioned did not approve of married women working outside the home. Several organizations showed interest in the study results and proposed follow-up activities.

Recipient Institution(s)