CERPOD-SARA cooperation: a research project on adolescent fertility
Diongue, A.
Pop Sahel Bulletin d'Information sur la Population et le Developpement 21: 55
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 1010-8246 PMID: 12288691 Document Number: 289242
The population of the Sahel will increase two-fold if the 3.1% annual growth rate continues. High fertility (6.5) accounts for most of this growth. Little is known about the fertility of adolescents and young single women who are the most numerous age group. Various national and global surveys until now, such as the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), have provided little information on the fertility and sexual activity of adolescents. Adolescent fertility is a preoccupying phenomenon in the Sahel. In Gambia, it makes up 15% of all fertility. In April 1994, the Center for Studies and Research on Population for Development and USAID's Analysis and Research Support for Africa Project agreed to study the trends and determinants of modern contraception and reproductive health behavior among adolescents and young single women in the Sahel. The central question they hope this study will answer is: What are the barriers to access to family planning services? Some specific objectives are estimating the proportion of sexually active adolescents and young single women, determining their contraceptive use, and identifying socioeconomic and cultural characteristics of females whose needs are not met by existing family planning programs. The methodologies are an intensive analysis of existing demographic data (e.g., DHS) and data collection and analysis of qualitative data. About 30 focus groups with adolescents, parents, family planning managers, family planning providers, and religious leaders will be conducted to thoroughly examine questions concerning barriers to contraceptive use. Quantitative research will take place in Gambia, Mauritania, and Senegal. Qualitative research will take place in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and, maybe, Senegal. The results will be used by managers of family planning service programs and family planning education programs.