Catholics as Forerunners of the Contraceptive Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Victor Agadjanian, Arizona State University

Using data from several sub-Saharan DHS, this study detects that Roman Catholics are generally in the forefront of contraceptive adoption. Catholics’ contraceptive use levels tend to be similar to or slightly higher than those of mainstream Protestants and considerably higher than those of other Christians, Muslims, and adherents of traditional cults. This Catholic “advantage” is analyzed from the standpoint of three main theoretical frameworks employed in studies of religion and demographic behavior—the theological differences, characteristics, and minority-status perspectives. None of the three perspectives alone provides a fully convincing explanation of the observed patterns. Based on the author’s own qualitative research in a sub-Saharan setting, the paper proposes to look for a key to a better understanding in the relative social diversity and cognitive flexibility of Catholic congregations. These characteristics may facilitate diffusion and legitimation of innovative preferences and behavior, even if such innovations conflict with the church’s official messages.