Sex, contraception and childbearing before marriage in sub-Saharan Africa

Type Journal Article - International Family Planning Perspective
Title Sex, contraception and childbearing before marriage in sub-Saharan Africa
Author(s)
Volume 19
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 1993
Page numbers 14-18
URL http://www.jstor.org/stable/2133377
Abstract
In Sub-Saharan Africa, sexual activity, contraceptive use and childbearing among never-married women aged 15-24 differs significantly among countries. Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys data for seven countries reveals that in some, such as Botswana and Liberia, more than 75% of unmarried women have had sexual intercourse, while in Burundi only 4% have done so. Although more than 75% of unmarried, sexually experienced young women in the countries studied know of at least one modern contraceptive method, less than 30% of these women in most countries have ever used a modern method. Childbearing among unmarried women is almost nonexistent in Burundi (2%) and very low in Ghana (9%?), but it is fairly common in Botswana (42%) and Liberia (34%).

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