Which factors predict fertility intentions of married men and women? Results from the 2012 Niger Demographic and Health Survey

INTRODUCTION: Niger is the country with the highest total fertility rate in the world. In the present study, we investigated factors associated with the desire for more children among married men and women in Niger. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilised data from the 2012 Niger Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variable for the study was fertility intentions. The data were analysed with Stata version 14.0. Both descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential (binary logistic regression) analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Desire for more children was 97.2% and 87.2% among men and women respectively. Women aged 45–49 were less likely to desire more children, compared to those aged 25–39 [aOR = 0.13, CI = 0.11–0.16]. The odds of desire for more children were high in rural areas, compared to urban areas [aOR = 1.61, CI = 1.20–2.17]. Childbearing women with seven or more births were less likely to desire more children, compared to those with 1–3 births [aOR = 0.09, CI = 0.06–0.14]. Men aged 50–59 were less likely to desire more children, compared to those aged 25–39 [aOR = 0.13, CI = 0.05–0.35]. Men with secondary/higher level of education were less likely to desire more children, compared to those with no formal education [aOR = 0.24, CI = 0.11–0.52]. Childbearing men with seven or more births were less likely to desire more children, compared to those with 1–3 births [aOR = 0.06, CI = 0.01–0.30]. CONCLUSION: This study shows high fertility desire among men and women in Niger. However, the prevalence of fertility desire among men is higher than that of women. A number of socio-economic and demographic factors were found to be associated with desire for more children among men and women in Niger. This calls for a collective effort to educate women and men in Niger on the negative consequences of rapid population growth and large family sizes.