EMPOWERMENT AND FERTILITY INTENTION AMONG MARRIED WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN IFE EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OSUN STATE

Abstract

This study investigates empowerment and fertility intention among married women of reproductive age. This study documents different patterns of fertility intention among married women of reproductive age in Ife East Local Government area of Osun State. The study was community based and cross sectional in design, and employed the use of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. A total of 742 married women of reproductive age (15-49 years) were interviewed face to face via a questionnaire, while 3 focus group discussions were also conducted alongside Key informant interviews with 2 health workers at 2 different health facilities. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, chisquare and multiple logistic regression at a level of significance of 95%. Findings revealed the mean age was 33.8±5.0 years, and the mean number of children born to the women interviewed is 3.3±1.4, while the mean number of children surviving was 3.0±1.2. Factors such as age, children ever born, husband's education, family type and women empowerment (p< 0.05) are negatively associated with the intention to give birth. Also, 98.7% % of the women arc aware of contraceptives, while the prevalence of contraceptive use was 24.0%, and 63.5% of the women have the intention to give birth. Some of the factors positively associated with current contraceptive use are level of education, religion, occupation, husband's level of education, family type, children ever born and women empowerment (p< 0.05). Women who have ever given birth to 5 children or more were less likely (OR =0.05; C.I=0.02-0.11, p<0.001) to have the intention to give birth than women who have never given birth or have ever given birth to one or two children. Also, highly empowered women were more likely (OR=2.96; C.I= 1.51-5.80, p<0.05) to currently use contraceptives than poorly empowered women. It is evident from the study that a majority have the intention to give birth among married women of childbearing age in lfe East Local Government area. It is also concluded that while more women are aware of contraceptive methods and recognize it as a possible step towards reducing the challenges of high fertility a lot of them are not accessing in it due to the fear of side effects and other negative health outcomes. Women in the study area needs to be enlightened on how to choose the best contraceptive method that suites them in order to reduce the fear of negative health outcomes, and possibly the side effects.