Stylized Facts and Review of the Relation between Contraceptive Use, Delinquency and Age Structure in Nigeria, and It’s Implications for Demographic Dividend
The young population
structure of most African countries will serve as a driving force behind
economic buoyancy in years to come, only if strategies are put in place to
encourage smaller families. Forty percent of the Nigerian population is below
15 years, while 3 percent are 65 years and above. A large workforce with fewer
children to support creates a window of opportunity to save money on health
care and other social services. This study seeks to examine the association
between contraceptive use, delinquency and age structure of Nigeria population;
to identify ways of achieving the demographic dividend. Data were extracted from the Nigeria Demographic and Health
Survey Report in 2008, United Nations World Population Prospects Report (2008)
and World Population Data Sheets (2009-2016). Uses of trends (tables and
charts) were adopted in presenting data in this study. Findings show that
contraceptive prevalence level in the country is very low, it ranged from 11%-15% within the selected periods. The desire to limit childbearing as the number
of living children increases was reported to be common among women with three
or more children in both urban and rural areas. Mothers with post-secondary education
on the average had 4 children, while those without education had 8 children.
Education is that best contraceptive to achieve the age structure that would result in demographic dividend; hence more
investments in women education are needed. Also, job opportunities for different
levels of skill are required as this encourages
dual role among women apart from rearing children.
Cite this paper
Ajibola, A. , Jacob, O. A. and Omotosho, E. (2018). Stylized Facts and Review of the Relation between Contraceptive Use, Delinquency and Age Structure in Nigeria, and It’s Implications for Demographic Dividend. Open Access Library Journal, 5, e4321. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104321.
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