Exploring the relationship between changes in fertility and disasters: a review of the literature

Abstract

With the rising occurrence of climatic events and their implications for population dynamics (migration, mortality, and fertility), understanding the interplay between disasters and fertility decisions becomes increasingly important. However, the literature on the relationship between disasters and fertility remains limited. This paper aims to bridge this research gap by comprehensively reviewing published studies over recent decades. The review uncovers the underlying determinants associated with changes in fertility and their relationship with disasters. This review examines peer-reviewed journal articles published between 1990 and 2022, which focused on disaster events regardless of time and place, written in English and available with full-texts, including those categorized under Demography, Family Studies, Environmental Studies and Geography in selected databases: Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar. In total, 73 original articles were analyzed. Disasters have varying effects on fertility rates, with some studies showing an increase in fertility due to limited access to reproductive health services and the impact of child mortality. In contrast, others indicate a decline linked to socioeconomic changes and restricted healthcare access. Policymakers and researchers must consider these complexities when designing interventions to address the diverse impacts of disasters on fertility patterns and behaviors. Further research is needed to deepen our understanding and inform targeted policies.