Determinants of fertility decline in Namibia: an analysis of the proximate determinants

Martin E. Palamuleni, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus

The paper examines trends in the proximate determinants of fertility in Namibia during the period 1992-2013, with a view to explaining the factors responsible for fertility decline in the country. The study uses the 1992, 2000, 2006 and 2013 Namibia Demographic and Health Surveys and Bongaarts’ model of proximate determinants. The study shows that marriage has a far more dominant inhibiting effect on fertility than the other proximate fertility determinants. Specifically, the fertility suppressing effects of marriage are more important than the effects of contraception and postpartum infecundability in explaining fertility levels and trends in the context of Namibia. The indices of marriage and contraception and an increase in the index of postpartum infecundability. The change is greatest in contraceptive, moderate in marriage and least in breastfeeding. The study recommends that strategies aimed at improving reproductive health services such as empowerment of women should be promoted in Namibia.