Multivariate Analysis of Household Decision Making, Contraceptive Use and Fertility Behaviour among Ever-Married Men in Nigeria

The study examined the effect of household decision making on the use of contraceptives and fertility behaviour of ever-married men in Nigeria. Men’s Recode Dataset of 2013 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) dataset was used. A sample size of 8,981 ever married men aged 15-49 were analyzed using Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression. The study revealed that majority of men who take a sole decision on their earning and are using contraceptives want more children. Other factors influencing men’s fertility behaviour included age, education, wealth status, age at marriage, religion, the number of living children, ethnicity and media exposure. The study concluded that women empowerment in decision making and in the use of contraceptive methods should be promoted to reduce men’s fertility behaviour.Key Words: Contraceptive, decision making, fertility behaviour, ever-married Men, Nigeri

Polygyny and Resources for Empowerment and Equality in Anglo-Phone West Africa: Implications for Childbearing and Women’s Well-Being

In West Africa, polygyny remained a common type of marriage. However, in spite of numerous studies exploring polygyny, the relationship between polygyny and access to resources for empowerment and equality is not well-ascertained in West Africa. This study addresses this gap by raising the question: to what extent does polygyny explains access to resources for empowerment and equality among married women? Data were extracted from 2013 Demographic and Health Surveys in The Gambia, Nigeria and Sierra-Leone. The outcome variable is access to resources for empowerment and equality measured by access to education, employment and barriers to accessing health care. The key explanatory variable is type of marriage with specific attention to polygyny. Multivariate multiple regression was applied using Stata 12. Results showed that polygyny was negatively associated with access to education in the studied countries; positively associated with access to employment in the studied countries; and negatively associated with access to health in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. It is important to refocus national attention to improving the capabilities of women because economic empowerment will not only improve women’s well-being, it will also translate to the reduction of childbearing pressures among women