Reply #6: My two cents (a cultural commentary)

[Riktor]

It is not coincidence developing and undeveloped countries all have high rates of population growth. Couples reproduce far more often than "western" couples due to, as you mentioned, high infant mortality rates, and because they need children. In undeveloped and developing countries, children work and, if they are lucky, fetch dowries. Children are not simply the next generation, they are a financial investment. Thus, while it seems noble t spread awareness of contraceptives in places like Africa, it is going to be an uphill battle simply trying to convince Africans to stop having children and, in effective, take large financial or material risks.

With that in mind, shouldn't we also work to develop Africa to the point where children are no longer a financial commodity?