Afghan Women Fertility Decline Reflects Public Health Campaign and New Possibilities For Women

Fertility Rate Drops In Afghanistan, But Will It Continue?  by Haya El Nasser and Paul Overberg.  USA TODAY.  January 25, 2013.

In the 90's Afghan women could expect to have 8 children in a lifetime;  In the mid-2000s the number fell to 6.3;  At the end of end of the decade the number was 5.1.  The high number in the 90s reflected the policies of the Taliban, e.g. not allowing girls to go to school, endorsing the practice of child brides, and ignoring women's health care.  High fertility rates make reduction of poverty rate difficult.