Urban Women's Autonomy and Natural Fertility in the Sahel Region of Africa

There was a very low age at marriage for women and social toleration of unwanted pregnancies before marriage, and large age differences between the spouses and polygyny.

Abstract

The proximate determinants of fertility in 1983 and 1984 were examined among a sample of women from Boho-Dioulasso Burkina Faso (80 women) and Bamako Mali (80 women) divided equally between the age group 30 years with a child the same age (25-27 months old). The aim was to examine womens status their perceptions of and aspiration about fertility and family life their role as mothers and gender relations. Data were obtained from a panel survey on infant and child mortality known as EMIS that was initiated in 1981 with follow-ups every 24 months. The main ethnic group the Mossi and the other indigenous group the Bobo were equally interviewed in Bobo-Dioulasso. In Bamako the main group is the Bambara who were primarily interviewed with some additional representation among smaller ethnic groups. The discussion focused first on the priority determinants: the system of nuptiality womens age at marriage large age differences between the spouses and polygyny. The discussion continued with consideration of abstinence breast feeding and contraception (the ABC complex). The findings indicated that there was a very low age at marriage for women and social toleration of unwanted pregnancies before marriage. Marriage for women meant the shift from the authority of parents to the authority of spouses determined by the father of the bride. The preferred age at marriage among the Mossi was about 17 years but 15 and 19 years were acceptable. In Bamako women reported a desire for their daughters to marry at age 15 years and not later than 17 years. Age was not easily determined and fixed by age at marriage the age of spouses or age at first menstruation. In Bamako spousal age differences averaged 12.1 years and 62% of husbands were a minimum of 10 years older. Marriage for women becomes a separation from maternal kin and is the opportunity for motherhood. Young women have choices between school or marriage each with its drawbacks. Polgyny is common in both cities. In the original survey 48% were in polygynous unions; in this sample there were 60 out of 160 in polygynous unions. Polygyny as practiced has only one option for gaining status: reproduction. Polygyny does confer also some freedom because of the mixed households. Women may be free women when the union forms are nontraditional.