Socio-economic and cultural differentials in fertility in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Studies of fertility differentials attempt to investigate why fertility varies within populations and population sub-groups sharing diverse or common socioeconomic and physical environments. This study seeks to show the existence of fertility differentials in Zimbabwe using a micro-scale case study that focuses on socio-economic and cultural factors which generate differing levels of fertility among population sub-groups in Chitungwiza. Chitungwiza, one of Zimbabwe’s major cities, is a good research area because it is experiencing rapid urbanization, an aspect regarded by many as a catalyst for rapid social and economic change. Since urbanization has globally been observed to affect fertility in many ways, this study attempts to investigate and highlight the nature of fertility differentials in the specific urban area of Chitungwiza.