Understanding Childbearing for Households in Emerging Slum Communities in Lagos State, Nigeria.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue IX, September 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Understanding Childbearing for Households in Emerging Slum Communities in Lagos State, Nigeria.

 Egerson Daniel¹, Adeojo Opeyemi², Omu Ebikaboere Ruth³, Orugboh Gabriel^4.
1,2,3,4 Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan.

Abstract: This study examined child bearing practices with critical focus on the fertility behaviour for men and women in emerging slum communities. The author analysed respondents’ responses on fertility behavior and knowledge. A descriptive cross-sectional survey method was applied with the use of semi-structured questionnaire among 364 households. The study revealed that average age at first actual marriage in emerging slum communities is 27 ± 23 years with minimum ages at 19 ±16, while the minimum age at first birth for women is 15years. Nevertheless majority had their first birth between the ages of 25-49. Also, more than half of the population has giving birth to not lesser than 4 children in their life time and a few still have desire for more children. Knowledge of other modern methods of contraceptives aside condoms and pill was very low.

Keywords: Fertility, Emerging Slum, Contraceptive, Nigeria

I. INTRODUCTION

Fertility is one of the most important components in demographic studies affecting almost all aspects of human life. Fertility is the only biological replication method for human being to ensure continued existence on earth. If the human society is to prevail, fertility is key and that is why, of the three main aspects of demography; fertility, mortality and migration, fertility occupies a central position in population study irrespective of the geographical settings; rural, urban or in slums. Human fertility is a complex process responsible for the maintenance of human society. In African societies, families measured their riches by the number of healthy children they had, however in an unpredictable circumstances, fertility preference seem unstable (Machiyama, Mumah, Mutua, et al, 2019). In Sub-Saharan Africa, there is the record of the lowest rate of contraceptive use in the world, especially in poor countries and on the other hand having the highest unmet need for contraceptives (Population Reference Bureau, 2019). This is a result from a number of factors; difficulties in getting contraceptives supplies, lack of adequate family planning clinics, low social economic levels and high value many cultures place on large family size.

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