High-risk fertility behaviours among women in sub-Saharan Africa.

This article examines high-risk fertility behaviours among women aged 15–49 in 27 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries using pooled Demographic and Health Survey data from 2010 to 2020. High-risk fertility behaviours were defined by four indicators: maternal age under 18 or over 34 at delivery, short birth interval (<24 months), and high parity (>3 children). The study found that women in polygamous marriages, those with higher maternal decision-making power, and those with no further pregnancy intentions had higher odds of engaging in single or multiple high-risk fertility behaviours. Conversely, access to family planning, maternal and paternal education, and media exposure were associated with lower odds of such behaviours. These findings highlight the importance of family structure, education, reproductive intentions, and access to family planning in addressing maternal and child health challenges in SSA, informing targeted policy and program interventions.