Changes in women’s status and fertility behaviour in Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA): a decomposition analysis

Very little is known about the contribution of changes in women’s status to fertility trends in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using a linear decomposition technique, this study assessed changes in women’s status and the influence on fertility levels. Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for 2-time periods with a minimum of 10 years interval for seven SSA countries constitute the data for this study. Results showed improved women’s status across the countries with increased proportion of women involved in decision making as well as women who do not justify wife beating. The decomposition models showed that, changes in fertility were due to changes in women’s status as well as changes in the background characteristics. The first model showed that the explained changes in fertility largely resulted from women’s perception of gender role attitudes compared to women’s involvement in household decision making. The second model also showed similar results. The study concludes that, women’s status is changing across SSA and that these changes tend to explain some of the changes in fertility across the countries. Other demographic and socio-economic characteristics also contribute substantially to fertility changes.Keywords: changing women’s status, decomposition, fertility behaviour, sub-Saharan Afric

Changes in women’s status and fertility behaviour in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): a decomposition analysis

Very little is known about the contribution of changes in women’s status to fertility trends in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using a linear decomposition technique, this study assessed changes in women’s status and the influence on fertility levels. Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for 2-time periods with a minimum of 10 years interval for seven SSA countries constitute the data for this study. Results showed improved women’s status across the countries with increased proportion of women involved in decision making as well as women who do not justify wife beating. The decomposition models showed that, changes in fertility were due to changes in women’s status as well as changes in the background characteristics. The first model showed that the explained changes in fertility largely resulted from women’s perception of gender role attitudes compared to women’s involvement in household decision making. The second model also showed similar results. The study concludes that, women’s status is changing across SSA and that these changes tend to explain some of the changes in fertility across the countries. Other demographic and socio-economic characteristics also contribute substantially to fertility changes.Keywords: changing women’s status, decomposition, fertility behaviour, sub-Saharan Afric

Maternal grand multiparity and intention to use modern contraceptives in Nigeria

Abstract Background Grand multiparity and low contraceptive prevalence are dominant among Nigerian women. These elevate the risk of unintended pregnancies, high-risk fertility and adverse maternal and child health outcomes among women in the country, particularly grand multiparous women. Studies have examined predictors of intention to use modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age. However, these studies did not ascertain the extent to which grand multiparity is associated with intention to use modern contraceptives. This study examined association between grand multiparity and intention to use modern contraceptives in Nigeria. Methods The study pooled data from 2003 to 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys. The weighted sample size analysed was 34,302 women. The outcome variable was intention to use contraceptive. The main explanatory variable was parity with specific attention to grand multiparity. Unadjusted multinomial logistic regression coefficients were used to examine association between specific explanatory or control variables and intention to use contraceptives while the adjusted multinomial logistic regression was applied to further examine associated factors of intention to use contraceptives relative to being uncertain about future contraceptive use. Four multinomial logistic regression models were fitted using Stata 14. Results More than half of respondents do not intend to use contraceptives, while less than one-fifth of respondents intend to use contraceptives in the future. Across the four fitted models, the relative risks of intention to use compared with being uncertain about future contraceptive use were significantly lower among grand multiparous women. Results further revealed pregnancy termination, fertility planning status, exposure to mass media family planning messages, knowledge of modern contraceptives, ideal family size, remarriage, household power relations, and maternal education as other key factors influencing expected risk of intention to use contraceptives relative to being uncertain about future contraceptive use. Conclusion Maternal grand multiparity is significantly associated with intention to use contraceptives among women in Nigeria. The development of a specific population and health programme to target grand multiparous women is imperative in the country. Such programme could be integrated into existing national family planning programme through specific contraceptive education, counselling and information for high parous women