Family Planning Outcomes and Primary School Attendance in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors:
Abiba Longwe, and Jeroen Smits
Source:
Studies in Family Planning, 43(2): 127
Topic(s):
Education Family planning
Country:
Africa
Multiple African Countries
Published:
JUN 2012
Abstract:
This study examines the relationship between women’s family planning outcomes and primary school
enrollment among their 8–11-year-old children. We analyze household- and wider-context-level
data for 103,000 children in 30 sub-Saharan African countries. Negative associations with school
enrollment are found for those who have short preceding or succeeding birth intervals, a young sibling,
or a mother who is pregnant. These findings remain unchanged after controlling for socioeconomic
and demographic characteristics. Analysis of interaction effects shows that many associations with
family planning outcomes depend on the context in which the household is living, revealing the
importance of a situation-specific approach. Findings indicate that helping families improve their
pregnancy planning will increase children’s schooling opportunities and lead to more effective use of
household and community resources.