FIGURE 4-12 Changes in age-specific fertility rates, Dakar Region, over time. SOURCES: Ferry (1976) and WFS standard data tape.

as important determinants of the level of fertility in Senegal,¹⁷ although the pattern of childbearing is broadly similar among the various groups. For example, fertility is considerably higher among the Serer, who live mainly in the Sine-Saloum region. The TFR for Serer women was 7.9 children per woman in 1975-1978, compared with a TFR of 7.2 for Wolof women or a TFR of 6.9 for Poular women. Although the TFR fell for all three groups between 1978 and 1986, it fell the least for the Serer. And in the DHS-II, the TFR for Serer women remains almost 1.0 child per woman higher than the TFR for the Poular and 1.6 children per woman higher than the TFR for Wolof women.¹⁸

The fertility schedules for the Diola, Mandingo, and other ethnic groups are based on smaller sample sizes, so they tend to be more erratic than the schedules for the Wolof, Poular, and Serer. However, Figure 4-13 shows fertility has declined significantly among young Mandingo women, who live predominantly in the south of the country. Thus, fertility variations by ethnic group partly confirm variations observed at the regional level.

Figure 4-14 shows variations in fertility over time separately for women