Prenuptial Fertility and Educational Trajectories in Ouagadougou

Geraude Kaboré, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo
Bilampoa Gnoumou Thiombiano, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou

Prenuptial fertility, defined as the number of children born before the first marriage, has significant repercussions on individuals' lives, particularly on their educational trajectories. This study examines the effect of prenuptial fertility on the educational paths of men and women in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, using data collected from the "Gender and Socioeconomic Success Trajectories of Women in Ouagadougou" (GeRSEF) survey. Descriptive analyses, based on the Log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier survival curves, show that prenuptial fertility is associated with more disrupted educational trajectories, with a particularly pronounced effect on women. Individuals who had children before marriage are more likely to repeat grades or drop out of school compared to those without prenuptial fertility. Explanatory analysis, conducted using the semi-parametric Cox proportional hazards model, confirms these findings, highlighting that prenuptial fertility increases the risk of grade repetition and school interruption, with variations by gender and age. These results underscore the impact of prenuptial fertility on academic success and emphasize the need for targeted support measures for affected youth, especially women.

Keywords: Fertility, Gender Dynamics, Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

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