Influence of Household Decisions on the Socio-Economic and Fertility Behaviour of Women in Rural Nigeria

Abstract

Household decisions are a major determinant of socio-economic and fertility behaviour of women in several parts of the world. In Nigeria, women’s participation in household decisions is low and accounts for negligible involvement of women in critical decision-making processes at the household level. Women in Nigeria, face discrimination, subordination, exploitation and relegation in several spheres of life. It has been observed that this discrimination against women is more pronunced in the developing African countries, Nigeria inclusive. In Nigeria, the culture of Patriarchy has aways set the parameters for unequal relationship between women and men regarding economic and reproductive health. It has been adjudged that women constitute about half of the population of Nigeria, yet there is inherently a pronounced level of discrimination of women's participation in the decision-making process regarding socio-economic and fertility behaviour of women themselves. This paper therefore attempts to x-ray the conceptual clarification of decision-making, overview of women's Participation in decision-making process, factors influencing women’s decision-making process, influence of household decisions on socio-economic roles of women, relationship between Household Decisions and Contraceptive use among Women, influence of household decisions on fertility outcomes of women, theoretical underpin of influence of household decisions on socio-economic and fertility behaviour of women, factors that supports significant changes in the influence of men’s dominance on women’s fertility, conclusion and as well proffer practical solutions to this ugly situation faced by Nigerian women. This papar therefore, argues that if the recommendations proffered in this papar are considered by the government as policy framework it will go a long way in the actualization of the global agenda on reproductive health and women empowerment by 2020.

Received: 30 May 2023 / Accepted: 28 June 2023 / Published: 5 July 2023