Publisher/Institution: Radboud University Nijmegen

Abstract: Major reasons why existing research has not yet effectively addressed the effects of poor reproductive health on poverty reduction and socio-economic development is scarcity of data and methodological problems that challenge the effort to measure causal relationships (Greene and Merrick, 2005). It is the core theme of this thesis to address these issues and contribute to the evidence base with respect to the African context. The overall purpose of my research is to analyze the relationships and interactions between family planning and socio-economic outcomes at household and district level, so as to understand the pathways through which family planning affects socio-economic development. To fulfill this aim, I will assess the impact of availability, knowledge, acceptance and use of family planning on (changes in) wealth, children’s education and women’s employment in Africa.