Are the young adolescents of today the family planning champions of tomorrow? Evidence from Burkina Faso

Georges Guiella, Université de Ouagadougou

Young adults are often assumed to be more open to new ideas than older adults, placing them in the forefront of social change. This paper examines this assumption, using data from the 2015 PMA2020 survey in Burkina Faso. We discuss the differences in knowledge and attitudes towards family planning between adolescents at the beginning of their reproductive careers (15-24), and older women. Findings show that intentions to use family planning follow different patterns. While the youngest women are less likely to intend to use than young women who have progressed in their reproductive careers, they are more likely to use than women over 30. Although this suggests that reproductive innovation could emanate from young women, reproductive change is more likely to be subtle and gradual rather than overt and pronounced. Findings also highlight the need for family planning interventions to dissipate persistent rumors o