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Dossier

Vol. 27 No. 2 (2023): The fear of big numbers. Politics and politicisation of African demographic change

Fear of African Wombs. Birth Control in Colonial Eritrea (1882-1952)

  • Valentina Fusari
Submitted
November 21, 2024
Published
2024-12-10

Abstract

The historical narrative of birth control unfolds as a poignant aspect of colonial engagement 
with Africa. This article explores the impact of European anxieties about African popula
tion dynamics and how these concerns shaped birth control policies across colonial Africa. 
By examining Eritrea under Italian colonial rule (1882-1941) and British administration 
(1941-1952), where the imperative was to control Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) 
and maintain racial prestige without sacrificing domestic and sexual comforts, the study 
highlights their influence on the exposure, knowledge, and adoption of modern contracep
tive methods. Thus, the article attempts to provide a history of pioneering women in urban 
settings and discusses how the colonial encounter changed their attitudes towards STD pro
phylaxis, sexual behaviours, and birth control options.