The Contribution of Marital Dissolution and Repartnering to Fertility Variation in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Macro-Level Perspective

Ben Malinga John, 1. Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research 2. Stockholm University Demographic Unit (SUDA) 3.University of Malawi

The role of marital dissolution and repartnering in shaping macro-level fertility patterns in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is overlooked, yet these dynamics are fundamental features of marriage dynamics in this region. This study uses DHS data to address this gap. It examines (i) the macro-level relationship between union dissolution and repartnering rates with fertility, (ii) the contribution of union dissolution and repartnering rates to cross-country fertility variation, and (iii) the influence of union dissolution and repartnering on the pace of fertility decline. Results reveal that union dissolution and repartnering rates are negatively associated with fertility. They account for 9.4% of cross-country fertility differences. Furthermore, changes in union dissolution and repartnering rates and the fertility behavior of women who experience these events contributed to the slow pace of fertility decline. Fertility in SSA would have declined 1.24 times faster in the absence of such changes. The implications of these findings are discussed.