Abstract:
Marriage and fertility in the African setting has assumed changes over the years.
These changes have the ability to affect the African society. This study therefore
aimed at exploring the changing trends in marriage and fertility in Larteh in the
Eastern Region of Ghana. The study was guided by the following research
objectives: examine the relationship between marriage-fertility dyad among the
people of Larteh; explore the fertility trends among households in Larteh in the
last decade; and examine the effects of changing trend on marital fertility among
the people of Larteh. Using qualitative research method, the study used the
interview guide to collect data from participants who were selected through the
purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The study found that marriage has
a significant impact on fertility, with married couples having higher fertility
rates compared to unmarried individuals. The study revealed that socio-cultural,
and economic factors reinforce the importance of marriage in the reproductive
behaviour of Larteh’s population. The study also showed trends of changes in
the number of children per household, shifts in the age at which people have
children and changes in birth rates. The study further found that delayed
marriages, use of contraception and changes in economic conditions have led to
a decline in fertility rates within marriages. These changes are leading to smaller
family sizes, later childbearing ages, or other demographic shifts within married
couples. The study concludes that marriage remains a significant determinant
of fertility among the people of Larteh, but that fertility patterns have evolved
over the past decade due to various social, economic and health-related factors.
These changes have influenced marital fertility, potentially leading to new
behaviours regarding family size and reproductive timing within marriages.
