Lower infant mortality, higher household size, and more access to contraception reduce fertility in low- and middle-income nations

Although average contraceptive use has increased globally in recent decades, an estimated 222 million (26%) of women of child-bearing age worldwide face an unmet need for family planning-defined as a discrepancy between fertility preferences and contraception practice, or failing to translate desires to avoid pregnancy into preventative behaviours and practices.

Citation:
Bradshaw CJA, Perry C, Judge MA, Saraswati CM, Heyworth J, Le Souëf PN. Lower infant mortality, higher household size, and more access to contraception reduce fertility in low- and middle-income nations. PLoS ONE. 2023;18(2):e0280260.

Keywords:
Population dynamics; socioeconomic factors; infant mortality; newborn; fertility; family planning; demography; contraception

Abstract:
Although average contraceptive use has increased globally in recent decades, an estimated 222 million (26%) of women of child-bearing age worldwide face an unmet need for family planning-defined as a discrepancy between fertility preferences and contraception practice, or failing to translate desires to avoid pregnancy into preventative behaviours and practices.