Perceptions of fertility: the case of University of Zimbabwe students

Abstract

A primary concern in developing countries, including Zimbabwe, is the formulation of policies that will bring about socio-economic development. Development planning and population planning are closely linked. The All Africa Parliamentary Conference on Population and Development (AAPCPD) in 1986, pointed out that the high population growth rate is frustrating "the achievement of Africa’s economic and social goals in the areas of food and agriculture, environment, health, mortality and fertility, education, employment and migration" (Mhloyi, 1986a). The parliamentarians called for the introduction of development and family planning programmes. The 29 African countries represented at AAPCPD resolved to introduce legislation and promote programmes to improve health care; strengthen family planning information, research and other support services; provide realistic and relevant approaches to education; improve the status of women; adopt realistic migration policies; protect and restore the environment, and to formulate and implement policies and programmes that attempt to decrease high rates of population growth, in order to attain a balance between the needs and opportunities of the people and available resources (Mhloyi, 1986a). Zimbabwe and other African countries aim to establish a rate of population growth conducive to predetermined socio-economic and developmental goals.