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THE SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT OF HIGH FERTILITY AMONG IGBO WOMEN

The Igboland of Nigeria has been under the influence of socio-economic change since the turn of the century, as typified by a high literarcy rate, a highly migratory population, the predominance of Christianity, and built-up towns and villages. Yet Igbo fertility has remained high even by Nigerian standards. Part of the explanation for high Igbo fertility is the prevalence of peculiar socio-cultural institutions which tend to encourage or support high fertility. In this study fertility differentials, reproductive behaviour and fertility preferences and intentions are examined as a function of three well-recognised cultural institutions or contextual factors: the bestowal of high fertility honour or title to women of a given family size, patriarchal relations, and patrilinearity and son preference, together with individual status indicators. Our findings suggest that socio-cultural institutions establish or condition relationships and behaviours among the Igbo; in other words, individual fertility behaviour takes place within the context of complex social organisation and under the influence of multiple social, cultural and ideological realities.

International Sociology, Vol. 9, No. 2, 237-258 (1994)
DOI: 10.1177/026858094009002008


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