Relations between fertility, birth intervals, foetal mortality and maternal health in Upper Volta

Abstract

In this paper, the authors report the results of an enquiry undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of physicians and anthropologists in nine villages of Upper Volta. Three surveys were taken: in 1971, 1976 and 1977, and respondents were offered therapy for diseases associated with infertility. Statistics on general fertility, postpartum abstinence, intra-uterine and infant mortality and intervals between births were calculated, and the information is related to social and medical characteristics of the women surveyed.