Absent and problematic men: Demographic accounts of male reproductive roles

Both men and women make important contributions to the production of children, yet demographic studies of fertility and family planning have tended to focus on women alone. This paper traces the development of demography’s emphasis on women and describes how the limitations of its theoretical approaches to reproduction and empirical neglect of men have been mutually reinforcing. The paper is structured around four aims: 1) to describe why men have had a relatively low profile as subjects in demographic research on reproduction; 2) to explain growing interest in studying men’s roles; 3) to evaluate existing research on men in developing countries; and 4) to suggest directions for future research on men’s reproductive roles. We argue that men, once neglected, now feature prominently in demographic research but principally from a problem-oriented perspective and on a limited range of topics. Our review of existing studies, though, does not fully support a problem-oriented approach. Demographic research should examine men not only as women’s partners, but also as individuals with distinct and interesting reproductive histories of their own. As the links between marriage and childbearing continue to weaken around the world, the differences in men’s and women’s reproductive experiences and their costs and benefits related to parenting will become even more salient for future research

Migration, sexual behavior and HIV diffusion in Kenya

The association of migration with the spread of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa is well documented, yet the social and behavioral mechanisms underlying this relationship remain poorly understood. Using data from the 1993 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, this paper examines whether migrants are more likely than nonmigrants to have multiple recent sexual partners and not to use condoms with those partners. Results indicate that migation is a critical factor in high-risk sexual behavior and that its importance varies by gender and by the direction of movement. Independent of marital and cohabitation status, social milieu, awareness of AIDS, and other crucial influences on sexual behavior, male migrants between urban areas, and female migrants within rural areas, are much more likely than nonmigrant counterparts to engage in sexual practices conducive to HIV infection. In rural areas, migrants from urban places are more likely than nonmigrants to practice high-risk sex. Given the predominance of men in urban migration and the large volume of circulatory movement between urban and rural areas, these results have serious implications for HIV transmission throughout Kenya

Covert contraceptive use: Prevalence, motivations, and consequences

This paper examines women’s covert use of contraceptives, that is, use without the knowledge of their husbands. Covert use may highlight conflict between husbands and wives about family planning, or it may reflect behaviors that spouses find difficult to discuss together. This study addresses three questions: 1) How is covert use measured in different settings? 2) How prevalent is it? and 3) What are the factors underlying covert use? We examine these questions by drawing on existing studies and detailed survey and qualitative data collected in 1997 in an urban setting in Zambia from married women and a subsample of their husbands. The prevalence of women’s covert use of contraceptives is estimated to account for between 6 and 20 percent of all current contraceptive use and is more widespread in settings where contraceptive prevalence is low. A multivariate analysis of women’s covert use based on the Zambia survey data indicates that difficult spousal communication about contraception is the strongest determinant of covert use. The positive effect of husbands’ disapproval of contraception on covert use works through spousal communication rather than as a direct influence. Husbands’ pronatalism had no significant effect on covert use. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of covert use for policies and programs addressing reproductive health issues and gender relations, especially the extent and nature of partner involvement that should be encouraged

Reproductive decisionmaking in the context of HIV/AIDS in Ndola, Zambia

Family planning (FP) programs are increasingly being considered as a logical focal point for STD and HIV/AIDS prevention services because they serve large numbers of women at risk, address the sensitive issue of sexual behavior and fertility control, and the methods for preventing unwanted pregnancy and disease can be the same. FP programs, by providing contraceptive methods, are currently one of the few sources of assistance in the sub-Saharan African region for preventing perinatal transmission of HIV, while the promotion of barrier methods contributes to the prevention of heterosexual transmission. Given this potential, research is needed to understand how the HIV epidemic influences reproductive decision-making. The Africa OR/TA II Project undertook an exploratory study of women and men’s attitudes and experiences regarding reproductive decision-making in a setting of high HIV prevalence in Ndola, Zambia. The objectives, as described in this report, were to examine perceptions of risk by men and women living in a high HIV prevalence setting, how these perceptions are related to decisions about childbearing and contraceptive use, and to identify opportunities for FP programs to expand services to address HIV prevention

Environmental Effects on Family Size Preferences and Subsequent Reproductive Behavior in Nepal

This study investigates the relationship between environmental degradation and men and women’s family size preferences and subsequent reproductive behaviors in Nepal. We draw on unique environmental data at the local level, household and individual-level survey data and individuals reproductive behavior over a 3 year time period in Western Chitwan Valley, Nepal. Results from Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and logistic regression models show that poorer environmental quality and greater reliance on publicly owned natural resources are associated with higher family size preferences and higher rates of pregnancy. The analyses provide support for the “vicious circle” argument that environmental degradation can lead to rising population growth via positive effects on fertility. As environmental conditions decline and when households rely on public lands for natural resources, men and women desire larger family sizes and women are more likely to get pregnant in the near future.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43509/1/11111_2005_Article_1874.pd

Neighborhood Social Change and Perceptions of Environmental Degradation

This paper investigates how changes in neighborhood facilities—new schools, health posts, bus services, mills, dairies, agricultural cooperatives, and other facilities—influence perceptions of environmental degradation. We use three types of data from a rural area in Nepal: (1) data on changing neighborhood facilities from 171 neighborhoods, collected using ethnographic, survey, and archival methods; (2) survey data on household characteristics and environmental perceptions from 1,651 households; and (3) individual-level survey data. We find that new neighborhood facilities are associated with perceptions of environmental degradation. This is important because perceptions may indicate objective environmental degradation, encourage participation in programs to improve the environmental, and influence environmental behavior.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43500/1/11111_2004_Article_479782.pd

Premarital sex and schooling transitions in four sub-Saharan African countries

Using data from the 2004 National Survey of Adolescents conducted in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda, this Population Council working paper investigates the timing of two key transitions in adolescence—school exit and premarital sex—among those who remain enrolled in school at the beginning of adolescence (age 12). Girls appear more vulnerable to dropout once they become sexually mature and once they engage in premarital sex. While girls were found to be less likely than boys, at any given age and controlling for other covariates, to have had premarital sex (except in Ghana), school enrollment and the timing of school entry were not consistent factors explaining gender differences. Results indicate that the negative consequences for schooling associated with sexual maturation and premarital sex appear to be greater for adolescents in these four countries, especially for girls, than the consequences of leaving school early for the likelihood of premarital sex. Future studies that collect more-detailed information on the educational environment should help clarify the associations between school experiences and sexual behavior among young people in sub-Saharan Africa

Transfers from Older Parents to Their Adult Children in Taiwan and the Philippines

This study examines the extent to which olderparents provide material resources and servicesto their children in the Philippines andTaiwan, and the influence of coresidence onreported transfers between parents and theiradult children. The data used in the analysesare from two nationally representativehousehold surveys of persons aged 60 and olderin the Philippines and Taiwan. Results showthat almost half of older parents in thePhilippines provide resources to non-coresidentchildren and only 4 percent of older Taiwaneseparents currently make such transfers. Whentransfers with coresident children areincluded, older parents show much greaterinvolvement in family support: 69 and 14percent of older parents in the Philippines andTaiwan, respectively, say they make transfersto children. The difference between the twomeasures diminishes with age, however, asoverall levels of giving decline. Results frommultivariate models show that while bothmeasures are associated in similar ways withkey factors such as age, health, gender, andeconomic resources, the association betweenliving arrangements and intergenerationaltransfers varies across measures. Theseresults suggest that older adults' in thesecountries tend to exhibit a preference fortransfers to the children with whom they live,and that coresidence with grandchildren may bean indirect transfer of services tonon-coresident adult children.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42984/1/10823_2004_Article_457546.pd

Absent and Problematic Men: Demographic Accounts of Male Reproductive Roles

Both men and women are important actors in bringing children into life, yet demographic studies on reproduction have tended to focus on women alone. The aims of this article are: 1) to describe why men have attracted limited interest as subjects of such research; 2) to evaluate existing research on men's roles in developing countries; and 3) to suggest directions for future research on male reproductive roles. Men, once neglected, are now included in research on fertility but from a narrow, overly problem-oriented perspective. A review of the literature, however, raises questions about the adequacy of a problem oriented approach. The authors argue that demography should focus on men not only as women's partners, but also as individuals with distinct reproductive histories. In situations, now increasingly common, where the links between marriage and childbearing erode, the differences in men's and women's reproductive experiences and the costs and benefits of parenting will become more salient for future research. Copyright 2000 by The Population Council, Inc..