Determinants of Higher Fertility Rate of Married Women in Rural Nigeria

Background: Nigeria’s fertility rate remains high at 5.3 births per woman, with rural areas recording even higher rates, largely due to early marriage, low contraceptive use, and limited female education. This study identifies the factors associated with a higher number of children ever born among married women in rural Nigeria. Methods: This study extracted data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). A binary logistic regression model was employed to assess the determinants of higher fertility rates among married women, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval not including unity. Results: The findings revealed that 66.4% of respondents had more children, while 33.6% had fewer children. The factors significantly associated with higher fertility included maternal age, age at first birth, contraceptive use, desire for more children, and level of education. Women aged 30-39 were significantly more likely to have a higher child (aOR = 444.02; 95% CI: 210.37-937.18) than those aged 15-19. An early age at first birth was linked to increased fertility, while contraceptive use and higher educational attainment were associated with fewer children. Additionally, women residing in rural northern Nigeria exhibited higher fertility levels than those in the southern regions. Conclusion: The study highlights a high fertility rate among married women in rural Nigeria and the influence of sociodemographic factors. There is a need to focus on girl-child education, discourage early marriage, and expand access to contraceptive services, especially in rural northern Nigeria. Stakeholders should implement a broad public awareness campaign on smaller family sizes' health, economic and social benefits.