Individual and community effects and adolescent reproductive health transitions in West Africa

Although a growing number of studies have examined the impact of aggregate education levels and neighborhood characteristics on contraceptive use and fertility, the findings remain mixed. Using recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from multiple countries in West Africa, this study investigates how community-level education and other neighborhood factors influence the timing of union formation and first births among adolescents. The results indicate that higher aggregate community education levels are associated with union formation and early childbearing. Additionally, individual-level education significantly influences these outcomes. Interpret these findings in the context of the broader literature on neighborhood effects and reproductive health and discuss their implications for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 4, as well as for realizing a demographic dividend in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).