Nwogu Joseph N, Igbolekwu Chisaa O, Nwokocha Ezebunwa E, Nwogu Esther C, Nwabugwu Obioha N, Arisukwu Ogadimma
Department of Sociology University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Department of Sociology Landmark University, Nigeria.
Heliyon. 2021 Feb 16;7(2):e05929. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05929. eCollection 2021 Feb.
There is a prevalence of high fertility among the Mbaise of Imo State, Nigeria. This is linked to the perceptions, beliefs and practices of the people. The voluntaristic social action theory by Talcott Parsons and Proximate determinants of fertility framework by Bongaarts were utilized to highlight the links between Catholicism and fertility, as well as socio-cultural variables and fertility behaviour by showing strength of their separate and combined relationships. Data were gathered through survey questionnaire and in-depth interview. The findings from the study show that the factors affecting fertility among the Mbaise include communal and individual norms and practices, and their persistent influence signal a need to investigate their separate and combined influences on fertility behaviour. Specific findings were that: (1) Roman Catholicism is a factor responsible for the perceived high fertility among Mbaise people, (2) Roman Catholic fertility practices conform to the socio-cultural environment in the area (3) knowledge of contraceptives use is significantly low among the people of Mbaise. The negligible proportion that has used family planning methods did so for child spacing rather than for limiting fertility.
尼日利亚伊莫州姆拜塞人普遍生育率较高。这与人们的观念、信仰和习俗有关。运用塔尔科特·帕森斯的唯意志论社会行动理论和邦加茨的生育近因决定因素框架，通过展示天主教与生育率以及社会文化变量与生育行为之间各自及综合关系的强度，来突出它们之间的联系。通过调查问卷和深入访谈收集数据。研究结果表明，影响姆拜塞人生育率的因素包括社区和个人规范及做法，它们持续产生影响，这表明有必要调查它们对生育行为的单独及综合影响。具体研究结果如下：（1）罗马天主教是导致姆拜塞人被认为生育率高的一个因素；（2）罗马天主教的生育做法与该地区的社会文化环境相符；（3）姆拜塞人对避孕措施的知晓率极低。使用计划生育方法的比例微乎其微，这么做是为了生育间隔而非限制生育。
