Desire for Another Child among Partnered Women of reproductive age (15-49) in Burkina Faso: Evidence from the 2021 Demographic and Health Survey

While global fertility rates have declined from 5.0 to 2.3 children per woman since 1950, sub-Saharan Africa maintains rates above 4.0, with Burkina Faso at 4.4. Unlike East Asian or Latin American countries that experienced rapid fertility declines within 2-3 decades, West African nations show persistently high fertility despite decades of family planning programs. Existing studies focus predominantly on contraceptive use or completed fertility, leaving underexplored the specific factors shaping fertility desires among women who have already begun childbearing—a critical group for understanding ongoing reproductive decision-making. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the desire for another child among partnered women who are already mothers. Understanding these determinants is crucial for guiding reproductive health policies in a context of an incomplete demographic transition. A secondary analysis of data from the Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey was performed on 11,899 partnered women aged 15–49 with at least one living child. Descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify associated factors. Among the women surveyed, 69.2% desired another child. Multivariate analysis revealed that age was the most predictive factor: women aged 40–49 had 94.5% lower odds of wanting another child compared to those aged 15–29 (AOR=0.055; 95% CI: 0.046–0.066). Ethnicity (Peulh, Gourmantché, Bissa), Muslim religion (AOR=1.15), and a secondary or higher education level (AOR=1.275) were also associated with an increased desire. The ideal number of children showed an exponential relationship (AOR=9.092; 95% CI:4.718–17.519) for five children. Partner or male involvement in health decisions significantly increased the desire for a child compared to female-only decisions. The strong desire for children reflects the persistence of pro-natalist norms and a slow demographic transition. Contrary to expectations, education appears to foster "planned fertility" rather than a reduction in the desire for children. Couple dynamics and cultural factors play a crucial role. These findings call for integrated reproductive health interventions, including education, access to contraceptives, and male engagement, tailored to local socio-cultural contexts.