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Geographical Review July 1995, 85(3), pp. 286-300. The Fertility Transition in Africa Ezekiel Kalipeni ABSTRACT Some African countries may be going through the initial stages of the fertility transition. In this article multivariate analysis based on country-level data from 1980 and 1993 assesses spatial variations and changes in fertility rates. Demographic and socioeconomic factors such as education, rural or urban residence, status of women, and use of contraceptives are important factors in determining the onset of the fertility transition. Over the long term, fertility will decline to acceptable levels as Africa continues to experience socioeconomic and cultural changes. Of special importance in the transition is the status of women in society. Keywords: Africa, contraceptive prevalence, female autonomy, fertility transition, infant mortality rates, population growth. DR. KALIPENI is an assistant professor of geography at the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801. To contact the author: Mail: Prof. Ezekiel Kalipeni Department of Geography 220 Davenport Hall University of Illinois Urbana, IL 61801 U.S.A. Phone: (217) 333-1880 (office) (217) 24-1785 (fax) Electronic Mail: ekalipen@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu Back to July 1995 Table of Contents