I come from the slums of Nairobi, where delaying motherhood is not always a choice. I was lucky to have this option, and choosing to hold off on becoming a mother was my way of stepping out of poverty and getting an education. The question of when to have children is a luxury in much of America, where birth control is readily available. To many women in African countries, delaying motherhood has higher stakes, and is less achievable.
On July 8th the New York Times Room For Debate ran a piece called, "Should Women Delay Motherhood?" The perspectives represented were fascinating, wholly relevant to women in Western countries who grapple with issues of fertility and career. But it left out an important element to this debate: women in other parts of the world, particularly in developing countries. To us, this decision can be the difference between poverty and prosperity, and a defining factor in whether we are able to obtain an education. July 11th is World Population Day, and as we think about decisions of motherhood in Western countries, I hope we also consider ways of making this choice available to all women.
Beyond my personal experience as a mother in Nairobi, I have also implemented maternal and child health programs in this community for…