Fertility Intentions and Child Survival in a Rural Ghanaian Community

Cornelius Y. Debpuur, Navrongo Health Research Centre
Winfred Avogo, Navrongo Health Research Centre
James F. Phillips, Population Council

This paper explores the relationship between fertility intentions, subsequent behavior and child survival in a rural district of northern Ghana. First, we examine women's subsequent fertility behavior against the background of their fertility intentions in 1997. Next, we compare the odds of survival among children below five years of women who did not intend to have additional children and those who intended to have additional children. The analysis combines data from a cross-sectional survey carried out in 1997 and demographic surveillance data from 1998-2003. The survey data provide background information as well as fertility preference information on women, while the surveillance data provide information on births and other events occurring to these women since the time of the survey. The analysis includes women below 45 years who considered themselves fecund. Preliminary results suggest a higher proportion of child deaths among births occurring to women who desired no more children.