The high birth rate in the developing world today, is similar to how developed nations were in the past before they were developed (i.e. rapid industrialization).
In the U.S. and Western nations (just 4-5 generations ago), it wasn't uncommon for families to have 5+ children in maintaining the family farm or children working in the factories to help support the family income. Though as a nation becomes more developed and healthcare is improved, typically the cost of upbringing a child becomes more expensive as the educational standards of the nation increase, making it less and less of an incentive for parents to have children as they are seen as making a larger and larger financial investment.
Or to simplify as one Quora response says (and you can find other responses):
Quote:
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There are an extremely wide range of reasons, but consider this the 'simple' answer: In a nation without guarantees on health, safety, and opportunity, children are the best form of social security available.
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https://www.quora.com/Why-is-birth-r...oped-countries