Comparative Analysis Of Fertility In South East Zone Of Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study compared fertility among the States in South East zone of Nigeria using the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2013 data. Using the Relational Gompetz model, estimates of adjusted TFR of 4.75, 4.76, 6.1, 5.73 AND 5.01 WERE OBTAINED FOR Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo State respectively. The impact of three proximate determinants of Fertility (Sexua exposure, contraceptive use and post-partum infecundability) in each State of the South East zone were assessed using the Bongaat’s model. The result shows that sexual exposure exerted the highest fertility-reducing effect in each of the States. It accounts for 56% reduction in fertility from total fecundity rate (TF) to observed total fertility rate in Anambra State and only 42% in Abia State. Contraceptive use emerged the second major inhibitor of fertility in each of the States except Ebonyi and Enugu States where it exerted weaker impact. Postpartum infecundability exerted the weakest impact on fertility in Imo State. The net effect of socio-economic and demographic variables on the total number of children ever born (CEB) was assessed using Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) model. The results show that respondent’s age exerted the strongest influence on the mean number of CEB and the influence increases with increase in age in all the States. Female education, especially beyond primary level has an inverse relationship with mean number of CEB in the States.