On the Problem of Family Planning Policy in Modern Africa

Population growth with long-term negative consequences for Africa and globally – due to increased migration flows – prompts African and Western countries and international organizations to ensure financing demographic policies to reduce birth rates. Family planning programs are the main component of the demographic strategy. The implementation of these programs varies greatly by region, country, social strata, families’ socio-economic level, place of residence, religious affiliation, etc. In South and North Africa the demographic transition is completing or has been completed, in West and Central Africa the fertility decline rates are slow. In some African countries, both the birth rate and its decline rate are high; in rare countries, it has fallen to the replacement level or below; in others, fertility is high and declining slowly. In South and North Africa contraceptive practice is focused on modern medications in combination with traditional ones, in other regions traditional methods dominate; they are much more accessible, but low-efficiency. Due to the high cost of modern means, the poor cannot afford them. Demographers emphasize that family planning programs must be reoriented toward the poorest social classes. Otherwise, given the current slow rate of birth rate decline, the replacement level will be reached in a hundred years.

Africa, family planning, contraception, fertility decline trends, social classes