Socio-economic and demographic factors associated with fertility preferences among women of reproductive age in Ghana: evidence from the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract

Background Understanding women’s desire to have more children is critical for planning towards future reproductive health behaviour. We examined the association between socio-economic and demographic factors and fertility preferences among women of reproductive age in Ghana. Methods This study used data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. The sample consisted of 5389 women of reproductive age. We fitted Binary logistic regression models to assess the association between socio-economic status and fertility preferences, whiles controlling for demographic factors. The results were presented as crude odds ratios (cORs) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) together with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results Approximately 60% of women of reproductive age in Ghana desired for more children. Women with no formal education were more likely to desire for more children compared to those with higher level of education (aOR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.29–3.48). The odds of desire for more children was higher among women who lived in rural areas compared to those who lived in urban areas (aOR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.01–1.53). With region, women who lived in the Northern region were more likely to desire for more children compared to those who lived in the Ashanti region (aOR = 4.03, 95% CI 2.69–6.04). Similarly, women who belonged to other ethnic groups were more likely to desire for more children compared to Akans (aOR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.35–2.35). The desire for more children was higher among women with 0–3 births compared to those with four or more births (aOR = 7.15, 95% CI 5.97–8.58). In terms of religion, Muslim women were more likely to desire for more children compared to Christians (aOR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.49–2.34). Conclusion This study concludes that women in high-socio economic status are less likely to desire more children. On the other hand, women in the Northern, Upper East and those belonging to the Islamic religious sect tend to desire more children. To aid in fertility control programmes designing and strengthening of existing ones, these factors ought to be critically considered.

Attempts to conceive and the COVID-19 pandemic: data from the Apple Women’s Health Study

“…22e24 In this way, education may serve as a proxy for financial security and personal agency vs physical risks of exposure associated with the ability to work remotely and thereby act as a potential mitigatory factor for the effect of the pandemic. In contrast to our study, other research studies found that the desire for children is generally higher among those of lower educational levels 23 and that women of higher SES had lower net fertility, 22e24 potentially because those of higher SES respond faster to changing family norms. 24 However, these analyses were performed with data collected from a nonpandemic period.…”

WITHDRAWN: Comparative analysis of economic and socio-cultural factors influencing reproductive behaviour in the Northern and Southern regions of Kazakhstan

“…A study that assessed women's preferences for having a child was conducted by B.O. Ahinkorah et al (2021). The researchers concluded that women with high socioeconomic status are less likely to want to have more children.…”

Determinants of fertility desire among reproductive age married/cohabiting women in Ethiopia; an analysis of PMA-ET 2021 data

“…Similarly, Caldwell (2005) 30,38,41,60]. However, these results contrast earlier studies on this point that higher education is associated with lesser fertility desire [19,[35][36][37]. The discrepancy might be attributed to the difference in the study population, design, and measurement; meanwhile, further study is required to examine the association between level of education and fertility desire in this population group.…”