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Beyond denomination: The relationship between religion and family planning in rural Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Sara Yeatman

    (University of Colorado Denver)

  • Jenny Trinitapoli

    (University of Chicago)

Abstract

Despite the centrality of religion and fertility to life in rural Africa, the relationship between the two remains poorly understood. The study presented here uses unique integrated individual- and congregational-level data from rural Malawi to examine religious influences on contraceptive use. In this religiously diverse population, we find evidence that the particular characteristics of a congregation—leader’s positive attitudes toward family planning and discussion of sexual morality, which do not fall along broad denominational lines—are more relevant than denominational categories for predicting women’s contraceptive use. We further find evidence for a relationship between religious socialization and contraceptive behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Yeatman & Jenny Trinitapoli, 2008. "Beyond denomination: The relationship between religion and family planning in rural Malawi," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(55), pages 1851-1882.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:19:y:2008:i:55
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2008.19.55
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rock, Amelia & Barrington, Clare & Abdoulayi, Sara & Tsoka, Maxton & Mvula, Peter & Handa, Sudhanshu, 2016. "Social networks, social participation, and health among youth living in extreme poverty in rural Malawi," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 55-62.
    2. Klaus Prettner & Holger Strulik, 2017. "It's a Sin—Contraceptive Use, Religious Beliefs, and Long-run Economic Development," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(3), pages 543-566, August.
    3. Jesman Chintsanya & Monica Magadi & Gloria Likupe, 2021. "A Multilevel Analysis of Risk and Protective Factors for Adolescent Childbearing in Malawi," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Sam Hyun Yoo & Victor Agadjanian, 2021. "The paradox of change: Religion and fertility decline in South Korea," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 44(23), pages 537-562.
    5. Sarah Walters, 2016. "Counting Souls," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 34(3), pages 63-108.
    6. Alexander Weinreb, 2014. "Heterophily in rural Malawi," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 31(50), pages 1477-1502.
    7. Victor Agadjanian & Scott Yabiku, 2014. "Religious Affiliation and Fertility in a Sub-Saharan Context: Dynamic and Lifetime Perspectives," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 33(5), pages 673-691, October.
    8. Cameron Goldsmith & Joel Nyali & Angeliki Taniskidi & Sandra Jumbe, 2026. "Assessing the Cross-Cultural Applicability of a Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire for Young People in Rural Malawi," SAGE Open, , vol. 16(1), pages 21582440261, February.
    9. Anna Shetler & Cory Anderson, 2025. "Neighbors’ social attitudes predict variations in live births among the Amish of Holmes County, Ohio, United States," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 53(25), pages 773-820.
    10. Connor, Dylan, 2021. "In the name of the father? Fertility, religion and child naming in the demographic transition," SocArXiv jndqu, Center for Open Science.
    11. Anais Bertrand-Dansereau & Shelley Clark, 2016. "Pragmatic tradition or romantic aspiration? The causes of impulsive marriage and early divorce among women in rural Malawi," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(3), pages 47-80.
    12. Jimi Adams & Jenny Trinitapoli, 2009. "The Malawi Religion Project:," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 21(10), pages 255-288.

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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