An AESCD-funded study on the age of mothers at the birth of their first child in the rural commune of Dankassari, supported by the MEAE (Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs), was conducted by a consultant, with assistance from the RAIL (Network for Support to Local Initiatives) coordinator, a team of investigators, and a supervisor mobilized locally.

Study Results

This study analyzed civil registry data from 2021 and 2022, revealing that:

  • 61% of women have their first child between the ages of 19 and 25.
  • 28% of women have their first child before their 18th birthday.
  • Women with higher education have their first child much later than other categories, though they are very few.
  • Women with primary education have their first child earlier than those who have never attended school.

A deeper investigation is needed to understand the reasons for this situation.

The vast majority of mothers in the study (99%) are housewives. Some engage in informal income-generating activities, such as small-scale farming or petty trading, but the exact proportion is unknown.
The study also examined the age difference between mothers and fathers, the difference in the number of children between mothers and fathers due to polygamy, and the proportion of home births, which is higher than the national average.

Recommendations

Based on the study’s findings, the key recommendations are:

  • Conduct awareness campaigns for parents about child marriage and the health consequences of early marriages and births, taking into account the profession, education level, and specific geographical areas of the commune.
  • Encourage parents to educate their children, especially girls, and keep them in school. Education is a proven method to combat early marriage and childbirth. School attendance reduces the likelihood of girls marrying and becoming mothers at a young age and experiencing domestic violence. But above all, school also provides economic opportunities and therefore promotes independence for girls.
  • Promote empowerment actions for young girls through career training initiatives and the implementation of small activities adapted to the local context.

These actions should target specific geographical areas in the rural commune particularly affected by early childbirths.