Timing of Second Births in South Africa: The Effects of Marriage

Thandie Hlabana, Brown University

This paper examines transition to second births in sub-Saharan Africa's lowest fertility country, South Africa. Fertility patterns in South Africa are particularly interesting because 1) it has experienced one of the fastest fertility transitions in the region, and 2) it also records the highest premarital fertility rates in the region. Using event history analysis, the objective of this paper is to examine how the type of union within which first births occur affects the timing of successive births in South Africa. I ask, controlling for socio-economic factors and contraceptive use, "is marriage still an important context for childbearing and childrearing in South Africa?" This research uses data from the Agincourt Demographic and Health Surveillance System (ADSS), South Africa from 1992 to 2005. Preliminary results suggest that union status is important in the timing of second births in South Africa. However, there are cohort differences to be considered.