Abstract (EN)

In Senegal, marriage and procreation are strongly associated in the social representations. With the postponement of the age at first marriage, childbearing outside marriage is becoming more frequent. A comparison of two contrasting populations, one from the capital (Dakar) and one from a rural area (Niakhar), allows us to better understand the mechanisms of entry into first union and of start of childbearing in Senegal. In particular, the present study permits us to isolate the determinants of the births outside of marriage. In Niakhar, the urban experience is a factor that determines the likelihood of becoming a single mother. In Dakar, young girls who work as housekeepers have a higher chance of having children without being married. In contrast, high school and college female students have a lower probability of becoming single mothers than girls of other categories. During the pre-marital period individual statuses are fragile and the stakes in terms of reproductive health policies are the strongest.