Volume 2 ISSUE 1

Socio-Economic Consequences of Adolescent Childbearing in Osun State, Nigeria
 

John Lekan Oyefara*
 

Abstract

This study examines the socio-economic consequences of women’s age at first childbirth in Osun State, Nigeria. Cross-sectional survey of 1,000 women, of reproductive age (15-49 years), was made. The socio-economic backgrounds of the responding pre-childbirth family were reflected upon and observed that all the respondents had similar pre-childbirth socio-economic background. The only discriminatory variable separating the respondents into two groups was the timing of the first childbirth. The first group consisted of 500 women, who had their first childbirth under the age of 20. The second group consisted of 500 women, who had their first childbirth at the age of 20 and above. Findings show significant direct relationship between age at first childbirth and educational attainment at P<0.01. In addition to above the first childbirth during adolescence had less or no chance to join school for further study. There is significant inverse relationship between the age at first childbirth and marital stability at P<0.01. In conclusion, the women in the States, who have their first childbirth as adolescent, are more likely to have poor socio-economic status at adulthood than those who delay childbearing until their twenties.
 

JEL. Classification: B21; H75; I31; J12
 

    Keywords: Adolescent, Fertility, Socio-economic consequences, Osun State, Nigeria

 

 

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