Urban nuptiality patterns and marital fertility in Nigeria
Isiugo-Abanihe, U.C.; Ebigbola, J.A.; Adewuyi, A.A.
Journal of Biosocial Science 25(4): 483-498
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9320 PMID: 8227097 DOI: 10.1017/s0021932000021866Document Number: 288378
Multivariate analysis is performed to determine significant determinants of marital fertility in 9 cities in Nigeria (Jos, Kano, Zaria; Abeokuta, Akure, Ibadan; and Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt). Sample populations represented different socioeconomic populations in each city: elite, migrant, mixed, and indigenous. The sample included 10,444 ever married women aged 15-49 years; the survey was conducted by the Department of Demography and Social Statistics at Abafemi Awolowo University of Ile-Ife. The results indicated that female age at first marriage in 1987-88 was 20.4. The Nigerian Fertility Survey had identified cities in the west as having late marriage (22.2 years), cities in the east with a middle position (21 years), and cities in the north early (18 years). The geographic regions correspond to the following ethnic groups: the Hausa Fulani in the North, the Yoruba in the West, and the Igbo in the East. The marriage age declined when adjusted through multiple classification analysis. Christians in the east and west tend to marry later than the Muslim north. Early marriage follows the same pattern as late marriage with the north having the earlier marriage. Educational status affects marriage delay only at the secondary school level. When women worked before marriage, the marriage age was later, particularly those in the formal sector. The same pattern follows for husband's and father's occupation. There is only slight variation by marriage type: polygynous vs. monogamous. There is increasing premarital sexual activity before marriage. Early marriage is also associated with marital disruption. In the bivariate analysis of the relationship between fertility and socioeconomic factors, the mean number of children ever born was 3.4. The west had the lowest number, followed by the east, and then the north. Religion was generally unrelated to children ever born. Children ever born was negatively related to marriage age. Level of education and premarital fertility were inversely related to fertility. Type of marriage was unrelated to fertility. In the multivariate analysis, fertility increased with age at first marriage and the tempo decreased with age.