Fertility Decline and Contraceptive Use Inequality in Egypt: Decomposition Analysis

Authors

Mohamed Ali Hussein Aboakrab, Ph.D. Associate Professor,
Statistics Department, Faculty of Politics and Economics, Beni-Suef University, Egypt.
Mohamed Helmy, Ph.D. Assistant Professor,
Department of Statistics, Mathematics and Insurance, Faculty of Commerce, University of Sadat City, Egypt.

Abstract

The current paper is an attempt to examine and measure inequalities in low fertility and current contraceptive utilization in Egypt. This is done through using Wagstaff decomposition to identify the causes’ contributions of socioeconomic inequality in low fertility and current contraceptive use. The 2014 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) provides the data for this study. The decomposition analysis of this paper reveals that household wealth, mother's education, and place of residence were the most significant factors contributing to socioeconomic inequality in low fertility and current contraceptive utilization in Egypt. Our findings suggest that policy interventions aimed at improving household economic conditions and increasing women's education have contributed to reducing inequality in contraceptive use and declining fertility in Egypt.