The pressure to have baby boys can harm African mothers' health (opens original article in a new tab)

Cultural pressure in Congo to have male children leads to repeated pregnancies, endangering women's health, with limited access to family planning and societal expectations reinforcing the practice. Valence: -1

• Pressure to have male children in Congo leads to repeated pregnancies and health risks for women
• Cultural beliefs prioritize sons for clan continuity, resulting in societal expectations on women
• Family planning access remains limited, with 29% of women having unmet needs in Congo
• Some men prevent partners from using contraception, exacerbating pressure to bear sons
• Maternal mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa remain high at 70% of global cases