Determinants of fertility rate among women in Ghana and Nigeria: Implications for population growth and sustainable development

Abstract

Background: Some individual and community variables, such as rural population concentration, per capita income, life expectancy of men, female education, prevalence of contraceptive use among women, and composition of women education, have been revealed to determine the fertility rate among women globally. This study, in addition to these variables investigated the effect of remittances (a global environmental variable) on fertility among women in Nigeria and Ghana. The study also examined the trend in fertility among women in the two countries.Data Source and Method: Macro data spanning 1962-2015, obtained from World Bank data portal-under the African Development Indicators (ADI) were analyzed using descriptive statistics (line graph) and random effect panel regression.Results: Rural population concentration, per capita income, life expectancy of men, female education, prevalence of contraceptive use among women, and composition of women education are the key determinants of fertility among women in Ghana and Nigeria. Remittance inflows significantly increase fertility among women in Ghana and Nigeria. The fertility rate is declining more in Ghana than in Nigeria.Conclusion: The results advocate the imperative for governments, policy makers, and development agencies to intensify their sensitization or enlightenment campaigns to ensure that remittances are being used productively and the rural areas adopt appropriate family planning in order to moderate population growth and facilitate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals