Abstract

PIP: This study examines the influence of women's status on fertility and desired family size (supply and demand for children) in different cultural settings. Data were obtained from the 1987 Bridewealth, Age at Marriage, and Fertility Study among a sample of 2105 Igbo respondents (838 ever married women) in 10 local government areas in Nigeria. Logistic models and ordinary least squares techniques were used in the analysis. The results showed that desire for more than six children was determined by the cultural factors of 1) acceptance of the Igbo strong son preference, 2) living in a strong patriarchal setting, and 3) living in areas where the custom of bearing 10 children prevailed. Igbo women with son preference norms had 1.7 more children than those without; fertility was 0.29 times higher with a strong patriarchal setting and 0.21 times higher with a parity of 10 setting. Secondary and higher education, urban residence, and marriage age showed a negative relationship with fertility. Contrary findings were that fertility and interspousal communication about family planning, monogamy, and interspousal age differences were positively related. Cultural factors reduced the impact of social status factors. The trends were similar for desired family size. The analysis by aged 20-34 years and 34-49 years showed only son preference and patriarchy affecting younger women, but for older women all three cultural factors were significantly related. Education, urban residence, and marriage had significant effects on children ever born and desired family size among younger women. Culture was more important for older women. In the reduced model, urban residence, higher education, and interspousal communication were significantly and inversely related to the desire for six or more children. Desire for more children was inversely related to number of surviving children; surviving children was positively related to current contraceptive use, particularly among younger women. Contraceptive use was inversely related to the three cultural variables. Among older women, closer spouse age was related to a lower likelihood of contraceptive use. Status factors were significantly related to contraceptive use.