Culture, Child Preference and Fertility Behaviour: Implications for Population Growth in Cross River State, Nigeria | Chapter 01 | Perspectives of Arts and Social Studies Vol. 3
The study sought to examine the effects
of culture on child preference and its implications for fertility behaviour as
well as population growth in Cross River State, with a view to isolating
factors which will be of importance to policy makers and planners in addressing
high fertility levels. Data for the study was drawn from the 18 LGA’s of the
State. A total of 1200 respondents were selected from the population of study
(ever married persons). Data for the study was gathered using a combination of
quantitative and qualitative techniques of data collection. The study found
that because the society is patrilineal in nature, with descent traced only
through the male patriarch, there was a strong preference for male children,
which in turn affects the fertility behavior of the people. The Pearson
chi-square calculated for child preference and fertility behaviour revealed a
likelihood ratio of 29.49; while the result for family size and fertility was
103.14 and 199.53 for socio-cultural norms and values. These results indicate
that, the calculated chi-square for all the variables is higher than the table
chi-square. Thus the stated hypotheses were accepted. Again, the multiple
regression analysis also showed that of all the independent variables analyzed,
child preference had a regression weight of 1.292 and a correlation coefficient
of r=0.89, which indicates that there was a strong preference by couples for
male children, with a resultant increase in the actual family size, thus
contributing to the continuous growth in the population of the state. This
situation, the study found, is given impetus to by the cultural norms and
values prevalent in the State, which enhances and sustains male child
preference. The study calls for a comprehensive development of the state,
especially the rural areas, as one of the remedies for curbing those aspects of
the culture that support and sustain male child preference and high fertility.
Author(s) Details
Igbolo Magdalene Agbor (Ph.D)
Department of Sociology, Faculty
of Social Science, University of Abuja, P.M.B 117, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria.
View Volume: https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/pass/v3
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