Family type and ethnic differences in lifetime fertility in selected West African Countries
Population studies
31
Issue: 1
(12 - 2017)
This study examines the effect of family type and ethnic differences in lifetime fertility in three selected
West African countries. Using the Demographic and Health Survey datasets of a weighted sample of
10,324 ever married women in Burkina Faso(2010), 5,099 in the Gambia(2013) and 20,014 in
Nigeria(2013), the mean children ever born was higher among Gourmatch ethnic group in Burkina
Faso (4.45), Fula in Gambia (4.05) and Hausa/Fulani in Nigeria (4.68). Further analysis using Poisson
Regression showed that lifetime fertility was significantly higher by 29% among the polygynous family in
Burkina Faso, 46% in Gambia and 25% in Nigeria than among the monogamous family. Age at
marriage, age at first birth, wealth status and educational attainment of women were significantly
associated with lifetime fertility. Findings suggest that lifetime fertility will reduce if pro-natalists’
attitude, poverty, age at first marriage and age at first birth could be properly addressed.
Keywords: Ethnicity, Family Type, Lifetime Fertility, Monogamous, Polygynous
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