The polygyny-fertility hypothesis revisited: the situation in Ghana
Sichona, F.J.
Journal of Biosocial Science 25(4): 473-482
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9320 PMID: 8227096 DOI: 10.1017/s0021932000021854Document Number: 329709
Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the effect of polygyny on married Ghanaian womens fertility. The following variables were incorporated into the regression model: effects of mother's age, ever use of contraceptives, wife's previous marriages, wife's place of residence, wife's educational level, number of wives, coital frequency, age at first marriage, and age differences between husband and wife. Data were obtained from the 1988 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey on 4488 women aged 15-49 years and a subsample of 943 coresident husbands. In the sample, 10% shared their husbands with 1 other woman and 23% shared their husbands with 2 or more women. It was expected that a complex relationship existed between polygyny and fertility, and that polygynously married women would be less likely to use contraception. The results indicated that 67% of the women had been previously married, of whom 62% were monogamously married and 38% were polygynously married. 63% of the 3147 polygynously married women responding to the contraception questions reported never using any method, 14% used traditional methods, and 23% used modern methods. Of the 2118 monogamously married women, 62% had never used contraceptive, 15% used traditional methods, and 23% used modern methods. 67% of the 310 polygynous women sharing a husband with 1 other woman had never used, 20% used traditional methods, and 13% used modern contraception. Polygynous women sharing a husband with at least 2 other women reported that 63% had never used contraception, 12% used traditional methods, and 25% used modern methods. Childlessness was more prevalent among monogamously married women. No conclusions were drawn about coital frequencies. Children ever born seemed to be more related to the age of the mother than the type of marriage. Multiple regression analysis showed that number of children ever born was negatively affected by number of previous marriages, age at first marriage, and coital frequency. The regression model explained 65.9% of the variance in children ever born (mean of 3.96 children and coefficient of variation of 40.9, SD = 1.6). The results indicated that 67% of the women had been previously married, of whom 62% of the 3147 polygynously married women responding to the contraception questions reported never using any method, 14% used traditional methods, and 23% used modern methods. Of the 2118 monogamously married women, 62% had never used contraception, 15% used traditional methods, and 23% used modern methods. 67% of the 310 polygynous women sharing a husband with 1 other women had never used, 20% used traditional methods, and 13% used modern contraception. Polygynous women sharing a husband with at least 1 other women reported that 63% had never used contraception, 12% used traditional methods, ad 25% used modern methods. Childlessness was more prevalent among monogamously married women. No conclusions were drawn about coital frequencies. Children ever born seemed to be more related to the age of the mother than the type of marriage. Multiple regression showed that number of children ever born was negatively affected by number of previous marriages, age at first marriage, and coital frequency. The regression model explained 65.9% of the variance in children ever born (mean of 3.96 children and coefficient of variation of 40.9, SD = 1.6). The unadjusted and adjusted least squares estimates for the mean number of children ever born increased with maternal age. Women using modern contraceptives had slightly higher fertility (4.4) than those with no contraception (4.0), and those using traditional methods (4.2). Polygyny had no significant effect on the fertility of women.