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Summary
Polygamy and monogamy in Somalia select women with different social traits. However, differences in fertility rates between women in polygamous and monogamous marriages disappear when accounting for age at first marriage and prior marital history.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Demography
- Public Health
Background:
- Polygamous and monogamous unions are prevalent in various societies, potentially influencing women's social characteristics and fertility.
- Previous research suggests correlations between marital structures and demographic outcomes, but controlling for confounding factors is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between marital structure (polygamy vs. monogamy) and women's social characteristics in Somalia.
- To determine if observed differences in cumulative fertility rates between women in polygamous and monogamous unions persist after controlling for key socio-demographic factors.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the 1983 Somali Family Health Survey.
- Multivariate statistical analysis to control for variables such as age at first cohabitation and number of previous marriages.
Main Results:
- Women in polygamous unions were younger at first marital cohabitation and had more previous marital disruptions compared to women in monogamous unions.
- After controlling for age at first cohabitation and number of previous marriages, the difference in cumulative fertility rates between women in polygamous and monogamous unions became statistically insignificant.
Conclusions:
- The initial observed differences in fertility rates between women in polygamous and monogamous unions in Somalia are likely confounded by age at first marriage and marital history.
- Sociodemographic factors, rather than marital structure alone, play a significant role in determining cumulative fertility in the Somali population.