Visualizing Young Men’s Fertility Desires: A View from Balaka, Malawi

Abstract

Fertility desires may not indicate precise plans; nonetheless, they contain important clues for understanding future fertility. On the basis of the dual assertion that fertility desires are (1) meaningful and (2) subject to revision with changing circumstances, this visualization provides a snapshot of young men’s fertility desires using data from the Tsogolo La Thanzi study set in Balaka, Malawi. Scholars typically measure desires by summarizing how many children respondents would like to have (numeric) and when (timing). This visualization adds a third dimension, flexibility, asking how changing circumstances would alter fertility desires, as typically measured. HIV-related concerns reduce most young men’s numeric desires while also accelerating family formation; the only scenario that increases desired fertility for many men is an imbalanced gender ratio in the family. Visualizing flexibility as a dimension of fertility desires clarifies that young men’s stated fertility desires are often tentative and subject to revision.