Modeling the Determinants of Fertility Differentials among Women of Child Bearing Age in Ghana

Aims: To examined the factors which determine fertility levels, their trend, and how they affect fertility.

Study Design: The design used was Survey Design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study used secondary data from the 2010 Population and Housing Census and some excerpt from the 2014 Ghana Demographic Health Survey which were conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service, 2014.

Methodology: The study used multi-factors additive Negative Binomial regression models.

Sample: A total number of 64,140 women between the ages of 15-49 years were used for the analysis.

Results: The study discovered that, higher education and prevalent contraceptive use had a higher inhibiting effect on fertility than the other determinants of fertility. Respondents with no formal education were 65.4% (IRR=1.654, 95% CI: 1.965 - 2.016) more likely to have children as compared to their educated counterparts. Modern contraceptive use is prevalent among women with higher education with most of these women in urban areas.

Conclusion: To stem fertility related challenges, all stakeholders must intensify campaign for female education and promotion of contraceptive use among females of child bearing age, because fertility affects all aspects of economies both nationally and internationally.