Perception of Economic Conditions and Fertility Desire in Urban Areas of Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Benin

Firmin Zinvi, Université de Montréal
Vissého Adjiwanou, Université Du Québec à Montréal
Thomas LeGrand, University of Montreal

This study aim to see how the perceptions of poor economic conditions in the place of residence is associated with the desire for additional children in the urban context of Benin. Data from the 2017-12 Benin DHS are combined with Afrobarometer data on opinion surveys using detailed geospatial information. The results of the multivariate analyses suggest a positive association between negative perceptions of economic conditions and the desire to have children in the future. Thus, women living in contexts where perceptions of economic conditions are strongly negative are likely to want a child. This association is moderated by women's level of education. Women with secondary education and above are less likely to want their next child than their counterparts with less than secondary education when they live in contexts where economic uncertainty is high. The trend is reversed when the level of economic uncertainty is low.