TITLE:
Stylized Facts and Review of the Relation between Contraceptive Use, Delinquency and Age Structure in Nigeria, and It’s Implications for Demographic Dividend
AUTHORS:
Ayodeji Ajibola, Oluwole Adeyemi Jacob, Ebenezer Omotosho
KEYWORDS:
Contraceptive Methods, Age Structure, Demographic Dividend, Delinquency Rate
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.5 No.3,
March
15,
2018
ABSTRACT: 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.