Even though I am a guy, honestly, the way I read the remark "seven or eight children [are] born to each woman." is just a statement of facts, not something demeaning to women.
I would also point to the fact that men can not bear children.

Also I can see why so many children may pose an issue for African countries without enough food production to support their increasing population.

I think the author is really reading too much in this remark. However I totally agree that education for girls would provide a big boon for everybody, but this is kind of an unrelated topic.