Childbearing in Ghana

It is not possible to provide a summary of ‘traditional’ norms regarding childbear­ing here; however, since fertility issues are central to an understanding of conjugal relations and reproductive behaviour in Ghana I will point to some issues of general significance.[91] Women generally looked to marriage for children, economic support, and sexual satisfaction within a respected union. On the other hand they brought to a marriage sexual and domestic ‘services’, and the birth of children. The rights ac­quired by a husband differ between patrilineal and matrilineal societies. Among pat­rilineal groups, such as the Ewe, for example, a wife’s sexual and procreative services are said to be given to her husband in exchange for maintenance (Nukunya 1966, 1991). Among the matrilineal Akan, however, although a woman provides sexual and domestic services for her husband, Oppong argues that the rights over her own sexuality, “her body, while alive and reproductive or dead, belongs to her lineage” (Oppong 1980:201). Generally children bring prestige to the lineage, whether mat­rilineal or patrilineal, and in the past they were considered important economic as­sets, ensuring the lineage’s continuity. Among the matrilineal Akan bearing and rais­ing children are said to be a woman’s most important contribution to her lineage since they provide assurance of its continuity, and a woman’s family actually thank her husband for giving them children. Among all groups special public honour is bestowed on a woman at the time of the ‘outdooring’ of her baby.[92] Prolific child­bearing is honoured, and mothers of twins, triplets, and a tenth child are held in spe­cial esteem (Sarpong 1977). Fertility is so important that most ethnic groups have special ceremonies to commemorate a girl’s ‘entry into womanhood’. A good por­tion of the period spent on the initiation of girls used to be taken up with instruc­tions on the secrets of sexuality, how to be a good wife, and rudimentary aspects of mothering.[93] Post-partum abstinence was traditionally practised in order to achieve spacing of births and women typically went to live with their natal families for peri­ods up to two years until the baby was weaned. The practice was in order to ensure the survival and health of the baby. Women who resumed sexual relations with their

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