Abstract:
Environmental disruptions, such as extreme weather events, can heighten household uncertainty by causing financial, marital, and housing instability. In this paper, we draw on unique interview data to deepen understanding of fertility intentions and the role of environmentally induced uncertainty in shaping them. Using in-depth interviews collected in rural Malawi in July 2019, we examine the motivations behind fertility intentions during a period of heightened uncertainty—the months following the destruction caused by Cyclone Idai. Among respondents with children, the majority planned to wait at least four years before having another child. Based on parents’ reproductive narratives, we develop a typology of respondents who prefer long inter-birth intervals. Our analysis reveals that while some respondents’ motivations are consistent with traditional spacing intentions, others stem from fundamental uncertainty about the future and the challenges of regaining economic and household stability in a natural resource-dependent context. Our results provide a foundation for developing theories to understand the relationship between environmental forces and fertility.