Determinants of fertility decline in Malawi: An analysis of the proximate determinants

Martin E. Palamuleni, North-West University, South Africa

The paper examines trends in the proximate determinants of fertility in Malawi during the period 1992 to 2004 with the view of explaining the factors responsible for fertility decline in country. The study uses the Malawi Demographic and Health Surveys of 1992, 2000 and 2004 and the Bongaarts model of proximate determinants. Analysis shows that there are increases in all three proximate determinants. The magnitude of change is greatest in contraceptive use, moderate in marriage but least in breast-feeding. The study show that postpartum infecundability has a far more dominant inhibiting effect on fertility than the other two proximate fertility determinants. Keywords: nuptiality; post-partum infecundability; prevalence; contribution