Fertility preferences among couples in Nigeria: a cross sectional study

Odusina, Emmanuel Kolawole; Titilayo, Ayotunde; Kunnuji, Michael; Ononokpono, Dorothy N.; Bishwajit, Ghose; Yaya, Sanni

doi:10.1186/s12978-020-00940-9

Cited by 26 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The odds of large family size desire were lesser among Christians than Muslims. These also concur with results from previous fertility studies [ 21 , 28 , 29 ]. The differences observed between Christians and Muslims could be due to variations in their dispositions to polygamy.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…For both of men and women, regional differences between the South West and other regions were obvious. This has been the persistent patterns in several demographic and reproductive health indices in Nigeria [ 28 , 29 , 42 , 57 , 58 ]. Consequently, there have been repeated recommendations that intervention programmes be tailored to the peculiarities of each geo-political region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Few previous studies have explored factors associated with fertility desires in Nigeria but were conducted among either married men and women of reproductive age [ 25 – 27 ] or among couples [ 28 , 29 ]. For instance, fertility decision making in Nigeria is dominated by men and their desire for large number of children is influenced by ethnicity, religion, education and spousal communication [ 25 , 29 ]. With respect to ethnicity, Hausa/Fulani men desired larger family sizes than Igbo, Yoruba and other ethnic groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social contexts of fertility desire among non-childbearing young men and women aged 15–24 years in Nigeria

Akinyemi

Odimegwu

2021

Reprod Health

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Background Reduction in ideal number of children has been suggested as a necessary precursor for fertility decline especially in high fertility countries of Western and Central Africa. In this study, we explored the social contexts of fertility desires by documenting the effects of individual, household as well as contextual characteristics among young men and women in Nigeria. Methods Data source was the male and female recode file of 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Analytical sample comprised 2674 males and 9637 females aged 15–24 years. The main outcome variable was desire for large family size (DLFS) defined as ideal number of children greater than four. Analysis involved use of descriptive statistics and random-effect logit models fitted in four stages. Results DLFS was 71% among young men and 53% in women. Individual-level factors associated with DLFS among men includes Islam religion (OR = 3.95, CI 2.68–5.83), household size (OR = 1.05) and richer (OR = 0.47, CI 0.29–0.75) or richest wealth index (OR = 0.28, CI 0.16–0.75). Geo-political region and high level of negative attitude to family planning (OR = 1.72, CI 1.23–2.40) were the main contextual factors associated with DLFS. For women, individual-level correlates were education, religion, ethnicity, marital status, household size, and wealth index. Contextual factors include geo-political region, community education (OR = 0.68, CI 0.52–0.89), child mortality experience (OR = 1.29, CI 1.11–1.51) and negative attitude to family planning (OR = 1.36, CI 1.13–1.65). The influence of religion, household wealth and attitude to family planning differ between young men and women. Conclusion Active communication and programmatic interventions are needed so that desire for large family size by young men and women do not become a clog for fertility transition in Nigeria.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social contexts of fertility desire among non-childbearing young men and women aged 15–24 years in Nigeria

Akinyemi

Odimegwu

2021

Reprod Health

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“…In Rwanda, the majority of the population desired 0-3 children regardless of religion while in Kenya, Catholics and Protestants desired 0-3 children, whereas Muslims and Other Religions desired six or more children (Muhoza, 2019). In Nigeria, religiously homogamous couples had equal desires for the ideal number of children, whereas religiously heterogamous couples had a higher percentage where the husband desired higher fertility (Odusina, et al, 2020).…”

Section: Fertility Desires (In Total 5 Papers)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Religion and Religiosity on Fertility and Contraceptive Use in Continental Sub-Saharan Africa: A Comprehensive Review

Turner¹

2021

Preprint

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The global human population has been increasing at an alarming rate over the last 100 years and is projected by the United Nations (UN) to continue to increase and reach 10 billion by 2057, despite a declining growth rate. Although some countries and regions, primarily Japan and Europe, have stabilised or declining populations, Sub-Saharan Africa is dramatically growing at an annual rate of 2.7% as of 2019, and is projected to sustain a rapid population growth up to 2100. Addressing the subject of population growth and overpopulation is an important but unfortunately neglected task. The consequences of a large, growing human population are already having distressing impacts on the planet, both on the natural environment and on humans, especially women and children. Until recently, there have been few studies on the effects of religion and religiosity on fertility and contraceptive use, and these factors are often overlooked as possible determinants. The aim of this review is to explore and seek to clarify the role of religion and religiosity on fertility and contraceptive use in continental Sub-Saharan African countries. The review of quantitative publications supported by insights and opinions from actual quotes of respondents from qualitative studies shows that followers of African Indigenous Religions and Islam have higher fertility rates than followers of Christianity. Across Christian denominations, Catholics generally had higher fertility than Protestants although the difference is small. Followers of the Apostolic Church exhibited the highest fertility among Christian groups. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews from the qualitative studies found that religious beliefs were frequently cited as a barrier to contraceptive uptake. The findings clearly suggest that religion influences fertility and contraceptive use, although countries differ in this respect. Few studies mentioned religiosity; existing results show a positive relationship across Sub-Saharan Africa between degree of religiosity and fertility, and a negative relationship with contraceptive use. These relationships are stronger in Islamic and Indigenous religions compared with Christianity. Religious leaders across all religions were found to be highly influential and many participants were inclined to follow the recommendations of religious leaders regarding fertility and contraceptive use. The implication of this finding is that educating religious leaders about rights-based family planning and its benefits should be part of a comprehensive strategy to increase contraceptive uptake and reduce fertility. With knowledge of its benefits, religious leaders could spread accurate messages about family planning to their followers and promote higher contraceptive use and low fertility. In addition, other important socioeconomic and cultural factors influence fertility and contraceptive use. Education, economy and access to family planning have a negative relationship with religiosity, but the strength of this relationship varies depending on religion, residence and region, with Muslims generally reported as the most disadvantaged in terms of education and wealth across Sub-Saharan Africa. Polygyny, gender attitudes, social status and misconceptions about family planning were additional influences on fertility and contraceptive use mentioned in focus group discussions and in-depth interviews from the qualitative studies. Religion and religiosity have an important role to play in relation to fertility and contraceptive use, but they also depend on other factors, their interactions and their relative influences. They have variable relationships to education, economy, gender equality, residence (rural/urban) and access to family planning, due to the different levels of these factors among and within countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The review suggests that with a more religiously open stance towards family planning, population policies can be more easily implemented. Religion and religiosity need to be considered in surveys and studies on fertility and contraceptive use to inform and help policymakers, economic planners, program managers, researchers and survey specialists. In addition, this has the potential to improve environmental conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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“…Studies have established that fertility preference is not stable and changes due to prevailing circumstances (Liefbroer, 2009;Trinitapoli & Yeatman, 2018). Furthermore, studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) including Ghana have identified a number of factors as predictors of high fertility preference (Ahinkorah et al, 2020;Kodzi et al, 2010;Odusina et al, 2020;Van Lith et al, 2013). Findings from these studies suggest positive relationship between fertility preference and actual fertility.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Consistency of the determinants of achieving fertility desires in Ghana: insights from 2003, 2008 and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data sets

Yeboah

Kwankye

Frempong-Ainguah

2021

Genus

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Sub-Saharan Africa has entered the early stage of the demographic transition with differences in and between countries. The relation between fertility preference and actual fertility is at the core of the demographic changes during the demographic transition in sub-Saharan Africa. At the current pace of the demographic transition, overachieved fertility (actual fertility being higher than fertility preference) is more prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa although some women do achieve their fertility preference. Our aim is to assess the trends and identify factors that consistently influence women with completed fertility to achieve their fertility desires in Ghana over a 10-year period. We used secondary data from the 2003, 2008 and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys for the analysis. The sample size was restricted to currently married/living in union women aged 45–49 years. The results indicate that underachieved fertility has increased from 25.1% in 2003 to 35.8% in 2014. Similarly, achieved fertility has also increased from 23.8% in 2003 to 26.0% in 2014. On the contrary, overachieved fertility has decreased from 51.1% in 2003 to 38.2% in 2014. The most persistent determinants of achieved fertility relative to overachieved fertility in Ghana during the last three rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys are child survival status, ethnicity and couple’s fertility preference. The study provides support for programmatic interventions targeting improving child survival and regulating men’s fertility preference.

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Fertility preferences among couples in Nigeria: a cross sectional study

Cited by 26 publications

References 23 publications

Social contexts of fertility desire among non-childbearing young men and women aged 15–24 years in Nigeria

Social contexts of fertility desire among non-childbearing young men and women aged 15–24 years in Nigeria

Influence of Religion and Religiosity on Fertility and Contraceptive Use in Continental Sub-Saharan Africa: A Comprehensive Review

Consistency of the determinants of achieving fertility desires in Ghana: insights from 2003, 2008 and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data sets

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