Volume 14 - Article 8 | Pages 139–156  

Interconnections among changing family structure, childrearing and fertility behaviour among the Ogu, Southwestern Nigeria: A qualitative study

By Onipede Wusu, Uche C. Isiugo-Abanihe

Abstract

The interconnections of family transformation, childrearing and fertility behaviour are explored. Data were generated through nine focus groups organized among the Ogu and content analyzed.
The analysis reveals that although the family system is still largely dominated by extended structure, the strong traditional kinship ties have begun to undergo serious strain. Child fostering and other means of spreading childrearing cost among relatives are fading out. Consequently, desired family size and ideal number of children in the society now gravitate to four children relative to over eight in the past. Given dwindling extended family resources for the support of a large number of its members, innovative reproductive behaviour is permeating the society, such as the adoption of family planning.

Author's Affiliation

• Onipede Wusu - Lagos State University, Nigeria EMAIL
• Uche C. Isiugo-Abanihe - University of Ibadan, Nigeria EMAIL

Most recent similar articles in Demographic Research

Job creation, job destruction, and fertility in Germany
Volume 52 - Article 13    | Keywords: fertility, gender, Germany, job creation, job destruction, labor market, spatial modelling, unemployment

The constellations of child fostering in Kenya: Considering location and distance
Volume 52 - Article 9    | Keywords: child fostering, distance, kin networks, kinship, living arrangements, location data, motherhood

The changing inter-relationship between partnership dynamics and fertility trends in Europe and the United States: A review
Volume 52 - Article 7    | Keywords: childbearing, Europe, family complexity, fertility, fertility, marriage, partnership, United States of America

The formal demography of kinship VI: Demographic stochasticity and variance in the kinship network
Volume 51 - Article 39    | Keywords: dependency ratios, kinship, matrix models, multitype branching processes, prevalence, stochastic models

Educational trends in cohort fertility by birth order: A comparison of England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
Volume 51 - Article 36    | Keywords: birth order, cohort analysis, cross-national study, England, family size, fertility, Northern Ireland, parity, Scotland, Wales