Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T20:55:51.479Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Polygyny and Fertility Differentials among the Yoruba of Western Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

J. Ahmed
Affiliation:
Central Statistical Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Summary

Data were analysed from the 1973 surveys of the Nigerian segment of the Changing African Family (CAFN) Project which covered Yoruba women and men in Ibadan and the western state of Nigeria. The Yoruba women in monogamous unions and those in polygynous unions show slightly varying levels of fertility, measured as mean number of children ever born. Most of this variation can be attributed to other variables; type of union of the women does not significantly affect their fertility level.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arowolo, O. (1981) Plural marriage, fertility and the problem of multiple causation. In: Women, Education and the Modernization of the Family in West Africa. Edited by Ware, Helen. Australian National University, Canberra.Google Scholar
Chojnacka, H. (1980) Polygyny and the rate of population growth. Popul. Stud. 34, 91.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davis, K. & Blake, J. (1956) Social structure and fertility: an analytical framework. Econ. Dev. cult. Change, 4, 211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dorjahn, V.R. (1959) The factor of polygyny in African demography. In: Continuity and Change in African Cultures. Edited by Baskom, W.R. and Herskovits, M.J.. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.Google Scholar
Ekechi, F. (1976) African polygyny and western Christian ethnocentrism J. Afr. Stud. 3, 329.Google Scholar
Lorimer, F. (1954) Culture and Human Fertility. UNESCO, Zurich.Google Scholar
Muhsam, H.V. (1956) The fertility of polygynous marriages. Popul. Stud. 10, 13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nag, M. (1968) Factors Affecting Human Fertility in Non-Industrialized Societies: A Cross Cultural Study. Human Relations Area Files Press, Yale.Google Scholar
Okediji, F.O., Caldwell, J., Caldwell, P. & Ware, H. (1976) The Changing African Family Project: a report with special reference to the Nigerian segment. Stud. Fam. Plann. 7, 126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olusanya, P.O. (1970) A note on some factors affecting the stability of marriage among the Yoruba of western Nigeria. J. Marr. & Fam. 32, 150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olusanya, P.O. (1971) The problem of multiple causation in population analysis with particular reference to the polygyny–fertility hypothesis. Sociol. Rev. 19, 165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Orubuloye, I.O. (1979) Sexual abstinence patterns in rural western Nigeria: evidence from the study of Yoruba women. Social Sci. Med. 13A, 667.Google Scholar
Page, H. (1975) Fertility levels: patterns and trends. In: Population Growth and Socioeconomic Change in West Africa. Edited by Caldwell, J.C.. Columbia University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Podlewski, A. (1975) Cameroon. In: Population Growth and Socioeconomic Change in West Africa. Edited by Caldwell, J.C.. Columbia University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Pool, I. (1970) Conjugal patterns in Ghana. Can. Rev. Sociol. Anthrop. 5, 241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reyna, S.P. & Bouquet, C. (1975) Chad. In: Population Growth and Socioeconomic Change in West Africa. Edited by Caldwell, J.C.. Columbia University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Sembajwe, I. (1977) Fertility and Child Mortality Levels and Differentials Among the Yoruba of Western Nigeria. PhD thesis, Australian National University, Canberra.Google Scholar
Sween, J. & Clignet, R. (1976) Female matrimonial roles and fertility in Africa. In: Marriage, Fertility and Parenthood in West Africa, p. 565. Edited by Oppong, C.. Australian National University, Canberra.Google Scholar
Ukaegbu, A.U. (1977) Fertility of women in polygynous unions in rural eastern Nigeria. J. Marr. & Fam. 5, 379.Google Scholar
van de Walle, E. (1968) Marriage in African census inquiries. In: The Demography of Tropical Africa. Edited by Brass, W. et al. Princeton University Press, NJ.Google Scholar
Ware, H. (1979) Polygyny: women's views in a transitional society, J. Marr. & Fam. 7, 185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ware, H. (1981) Women, Demography and Development. Demography Teaching Notes 3, Demography Department, Australian National University, Canberra.Google Scholar
Ware, H. (No date) Yoruba Social Structure: The Role of Polygyny. Demography Department, Australian National University, Canberra.Google Scholar