Abstract

Globally, there have been significant changes in women’s reproductive behaviour that have had profound effects on population growth. Despite declining fertility in South Africa in recent years, population growth is yet to slow down. This study examined patterns of childbearing in contemporary South Africa. Specifically, it investigated the prevalence of fertility among women of different relationship status and its associated social, economic, and cultural factors. Cross-sectional survey data from 6,124 responses of women in the reproductive age (15–49 years old) to the 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey were used to decompose fertility into its constituent parts and analysed using binary logistic regression techniques. The findings showed that both marital and nonmarital childbirths significantly contribute to the overall fertility levels in South Africa. Moreover, the results showed that race, ethnicity, household size, age at first sex and contraceptive use were risk factors for childbearing among South African women of childbearing age, while younger age, increased education and wealth were found to be protective factors against childbearing. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.

摘要

在全球范围内，妇女的生殖行为发生了重大变化，对人口增长产生了深远影响。尽管近年来南非的生育率下降，但人口增长尚未放缓。这项研究调查了当代南非的生育方式。具体而言，它调查了具有不同关系状况的妇女中的生育率及其相关的社会，经济和文化因素。使用2016年南非人口与健康调查中6,124名育龄妇女（15-49岁）的应答的横断面调查数据，将生育力分解成其组成部分，并使用二元逻辑回归技术进行分析。研究结果表明，婚姻和非婚姻的分娩都对南非的总体生育水平做出了重要贡献。此外，结果表明，种族，种族，家庭规模，初婚年龄和使用避孕药具是南非育龄妇女生育的危险因素，而年龄较小，受教育程度更高和财富增加则是预防生育的保护因素。研究结果的政策含义进行了讨论。