Survival Analysis and Determinants of Timing of First Birth after Marriage in Nigeria
Population studies
30
Issue: 2
(11 - 2016)
This study assessed the dynamics of First Birth Interval (FBI) after marriage, its determinants as well as
relationship between fertility and FBI among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. We right-censored
FBI of women aged 15-49 years using 2013 Nigeria DHS data, used Kaplan Meier survival function to
monitor the timings and Cox Proportional Hazard (CPH) and Generalized Gamma (GG) regression to
model factors affecting FBI. The median FBI in Nigeria was |.75 years and decreased with delayed age
at marriage. Women with higher education have shorter FBI (TR=0.86(95% Cl: 0.85-0.88)). Urban
women were more likely to have earlier FBI (HR=1.28 95% Cl: 1.24-1.32)). Fertility was significantly
associated with FBI. The longer the FBI the lower the fertility level and vice versa except for women
aged 15-19 years. Age at marriage, educational attainment, wealth status and residence were the main
determinants of timing of first birth after marriage in Nigeria.
Keywords: first birth interval, Cox proportional hazard, Generalized Gamma model, fertility.
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