Respuesta :
While early childbearing in some cases leads to higher child and maternal mortality, it is quite reasonable to assume that it has important effects on population levels and growth, especially in populations that appear to be governed largely by natural fertility. Given what we know about the diversity of African populations, two potential effects of early age at first birth could operate to increase population growth rates. First, areas with very young ages at first birth would very likely have compressed generations that would lead to higher rates of population growth, even if completed family size were held constant (Coale and Tye, 1961). On the other hand, in areas where entry into marriage is delayed, completed family size could be significantly lower (Hobcraft and Casterline, 1983). However, there is little direct evidence on the relationship between age at first marriage and completed family size in sub-Saharan Africa. In any event, the relationship is likely to be weak especially in areas where adolescence is undergoing such flux (see Gyepi-Garbrah, 1985a).
