Fertility trends in urban and rural Zambia: evidence from DHS data 1992 - 2014

Million Phiri, University of Zambia
Caroline Banda, University of Zambia
Musonda Lemba, University of Zambia

This study was done to examine fertility trends and implications in urban and rural Zambia with evidence from DHS data 1992–2014. Fertility has been declining for some years now world over buts has remained highest in sub-Saharan African countries than in any other parts of the world. This is mainly due to strong kinship networks and social values of children in most African cultures. Zambia, like much of sub-Saharan Africa is one of the last countries in the developing world to initiate fertility decline. Study results suggest that fertility reduction is more pronounced in urban areas than in rural areas of Zambia. The increase is contraception use in rural areas has had less effect on declining fertility. Unless concrete family planning and reproductive health interventions are undertaken seriously Zambia’s fertility levels especially in rural areas are likely to remain relatively high for some time in the future.