This document discusses factors that influence fertility rates. It defines fertility as the actual number of pregnancies or children a woman has. It also defines fecundity as the maximum biological capacity for reproduction. The document notes that traditionally, Nigerian society places a high value on children. It then lists and describes several socio-cultural factors that can influence fertility rates, such as age, marital status, culture, religion, education, social class, and urbanization. The learning objectives are to define fertility, describe socio-cultural factors influencing fertility, and discuss the effect of education and urbanization on fertility rates.

1. Dr A Adeniran FMCPH
Sociology of Fertility

2. Learning Objectives
At the end of this lecture, Students should be able to
• Define Fertility
• Describe Socio-cultural factors that affect fertility
• Describe the effect of education/urbanization and other
factors on fertility

3. What is Fertility?
Fertility is the actual no. of pregnan
cies or children the woman has
Fertility is the actual reproductive
experience of the woman

4. Fertility vs Fecundity
Fecundity is the maximum biological capacity
for reproduction

5. Traditionally, Nigerian society and many
societies in the developing world place a
high premium on children

6. Socio-Cultural Factors That Influence
Fertility

7. 1
2
3
4
5
6
AGE
HOW DOES AGE
INFLUENCE FERTILITY RATE?

8. 1
2
3
4
5
6
MARITAL STATUS
MARRIED SINGLE
HOW DOES MARITAL STATUS INFLUENCE FERTILITY RATE?

9. 1
2
3
4
5
6
CULTURAL
POLYGAMY
MALE
PREFERENCE
CHILDREN =
WEALTH
INHERITING
WIDOWS
CHILD/EARLY
MARRIAGE
POSITION OF WOMEN/WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

10. 1
2
3
4
5
6
RELIGION
Islam
vs
Christianity
vs
catholic

11. 1
2
3
4
5
6
EDUCATION &
SOCIAL CLASS
• Education has a direct relationship with
contraceptive usage
• People who want their children to go to school
also tend to have less no. of children
• People of higher social class tend to have fewer
children

12. 1
2
3
4
5
6 URBANIZATION
People who live in urban areas tend
to have fewer children
Why?

13. SO WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT?

14. ANY QUESTIONS?