| Factors explaining the North–South differentials in contraceptive use in Nigeria: A nonlinear decomposition analysis |
| Authors: |
Stella Babalola, and Olamide Oyenubi |
| Source: |
Demographic Research, 38(12): 287-308; DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2018.38.12 |
| Topic(s): |
Contraception
Family planning
|
| Country: |
Africa
Nigeria
|
| Published: |
JAN 2018 |
| Abstract: |
BACKGROUND
Northern Nigeria has some of the worst reproductive health indicators worldwide.
Conspicuous North–South variations exist in contraceptive use; not much is known
about the drivers of contraceptive use disparities in the North compared to the South.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we examine the relative weights of the factors that contribute to this
North–South gap in contraceptive prevalence.
METHODS
Using the women’s 2013 Demographic Health Survey dataset, we applied a nonlinear
decomposition technique to determine the contribution of sociodemographic and
socioeconomic characteristics, conjugal relationship dynamics, intimate partner
violence, ideational variables, and Islamic culture to the North–South disparities in
contraceptive use.
RESULTS
There was a gap of 12.4 percentage points in contraceptive prevalence between the
north and south of Nigeria (5.2% vs 17.6%). The largest contributors to the gap were
ideational characteristics (explaining 42.0% of the gap) and socio-economic profiles
(explaining 42.6%). Patterns of conjugal relationship dynamics (11.1%), sociodemographic
characteristics (?11.0%), Islamic religious culture (7.6%), and exposure to
family planning messaging (6.1%) were also significant contributors.
CONCLUSIONS
Effective interventions to increase contraceptive use in northern Nigeria should aim at
addressing socioeconomic disadvantage in the North, impacting ideational characteristics and specifically targeting poor women and those with low levels of
education. Working with Islamic religious leaders is also critical to bridging the gap.
CONTRIBUTION
This paper broadens the knowledge on the determinants of contraceptive use in Nigeria
by identifying contextual factors that operate differently in the North compared to the
South. |
| Web: |
https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26457046.pdf?ab_segments=0%252Fbasic_expensive%252Fcontrol&refreqid=excelsior%3Adc7da1291b184fcedd249e3b4715e2ee |
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