Attitudes Towards And Practice Of Birth Spacing Among Couples In Nigeria

ABSTRACT

High population growth due to high fertility and closely spaced birth is inimical to development

in developing countries. This can endanger the lives of both mothers and children. Closely

spaced birth may sap women of necessary energy, put the newly born babies in disadvantage

position and also put the family in bad economic position. Therefore, this study examined the

attitudes towards and practice of birth spacing among couples in Nigeria.

The study used 2013 NDHS couples recode data set with a sample size of 7,727. Three levels of

analyses were employed - univariate in form of percentage frequency distribution, bivariate in

fonn of cross-tabulations and Chi-square test and multivariate analyses using binary logistic

regression model. Findings revealed that 52. 71 % approve the practice of birth spacing for two

years and more and 54.30% had birth interval of two and more years. Multivariate analyses

revealed that religion, education and wealth index were characteristics of couples that influenced

their attitudes towards birth spacing while joint decision making and number of living children

were significant characteristics of couples influencing the practice of birth spacing. The study

concluded that intervention programmes that would influence attitudes towards and practice of

birth spacing among couples should put religion, education, wealth index, joint decision making and number of living children into consideration.