This thesis presents the findings of a detailed fertility analysis
for the Gambia and its sub-groups. It has attempted to examine the
plausibility and robustness of some indirect fertility techniques and models
for the country's fertility data. Due to the fact that the Gambia has relied
on stable population analysis as the only possible means to estimate its
fertility until the P/F ratio method originally proposed by Brass (1964)
was applied to the 1973 census data, the necessity of investigating the
robustness of the other indirect techniques when applied to the census
data becomes evident.
Further efforts to reveal the existing fertility differentials and
patterns have also been incorporated. The main limitation of the present
study arise from the paucity of data which limits efforts to explain the
possible causes of fertility differentials and patterns within the country's
population. However, some striking differences in fertility levels and
structures have been noted between the sub-groups being reviewed. The
fertility patterns have also indicated that most child-bearing activity
occurs in the younger age groups of women under 30 years.
It should be noted that even with a sound knowledge of the country,
the sparse data of the 1973 census still leave some important questions to
be answered. There is an urgent need to conduct a national fertility survey
to substantiate the findings of national censuses
