%0 Journal Article
%A Muyiwa, Oladosun
%A George, T. O.
%A Abioye, T.
%A Isaac, olawole Adebanke
%A Adekoya, Omobosede Dorcas
%F eprints:17826
%J Socio-Demographic Factors, Agents of Modernity, Employment Status & Fertility Behavior of Women in Marital Union in South-West Region of Nigeria
%T Socio-Demographic Factors, Agents of Modernity, Employment Status & Fertility  Behavior of Women in Marital Union in South-West Region of Nigeria
%U http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/17826/
%X This paper examines key factors influencing fertility behavior of women in marital union in the  south-west region of Nigeria with a view to reducing fertility in this region of the country. The  key dependent variables are (1) preference for another child, and (2) number of living children.  A total of 3784 women aged 15-49 in marital union were extracted from the 2013 Nigeria  Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) nationally representative data. Results showed that the  odds of non-preference for another child increased significantly by 2.23 times (P-value = .000)  per unit increase in respondent’s age, and varied significantly by state of residence. The odds of  non-preference for another child significantly increased 1.05 times per unit increase (P-value =  .000) in husband’s age, and it increased by 1.37 times (P-value = .024) for respondents who had  cable TV compared to those who do not have. The odds of non-preference for another child  decreased to .37 times (P-value = .046) for respondents working compared to those not working,  and it increased 21.34 times (P-value = .017) for respondents who earned only cash for work  compared those not working. On number of living children, the odds of having at most two  children decreased to .45 times (P-value = .000) with each unit increase in respondent’s age, it  increased 2.9 times (P-value = .000) for respondents with higher education compared to the  uneducated reference category. The odds of having at most two children increased 2.01 times (Pvalue  = .035) for the richest wealth status compared to the poorest/poorer, decreased  significantly to .97 times (P-value = .000) for each unit increase in husband’s age. The odds of  having at most two children decreased significantly to .56 times (P-value = .008) for respondents  with primary school education compared to the uneducated, and it decreased significantly to .48  times (P-value = .001) for respondents who had TV compared to those who do not have. Policies  and programming need to factor these findings into strategies and actions that can lead to further  reduction in the current high fertility in the region.