Reproductive mishaps and Western contraception: an African challenge to fertility theory.

This study compares notions of reproduction in Gambia and the West and analyzes 1992 baseline fertility survey data from the North Bank areas of rural Gambia. The sample includes 2980 women from 40 villages. The second phase was a multi-round survey in 1993 and 1994 in 8 of the original 40 villages among 270 women who had a pregnancy in the past 3 years. The Western model of fertility assumes a fixed life course and that contraception is a device for exploiting the time limits of fecundability. Gambian models of reproduction rely on a body resource framework that is based on declines in muscles strength and blood due to wearing life events. The Gambian fertility model includes more than fecundability in determining a womans ability to reproduce. Mishaps are destructive of reproductive capital. Mishaps include a heavy workload overly frequent childbearing a shortage of blood or simply being tired. Time and aging are not predictable forces that work independently of other life events. Reproduction is a potential to be realized without time limits. Fertility in the study sample was a 7.5 children/woman. Birth intervals were around 2.5 years. Contraceptive use was low and was mostly the pill and Depo-Provera. The rationale for contraception was the desire to protect the health of the children and the mother. Birth interval is regulated. Fertility behaviors change throughout the life cycle. Young women in their 30s spoke about being too old to bear another child. Older women were eager to delay childbearing. Contraceptive use was higher among women who had a miscarriage or stillbirth. A child spacing framework inadequately explained contraceptive behavior.