The Association Between Women's Education and Fertility, Moderating Effect of Unemployment in Context of Polygyny in...

Increasing fertility has been the main challenge for Pakistan. It has been characterized as the sixth most populous country in the world, having a total population of 208 million, with a growth rate of 2.4% annually, by census report 2017. This study examines the relationship between women's education, employment status, and fertility outcomes in Pakistan.

Utilizing the Demographic and Health Survey of 2017-2018, the study involves 1796 married women of reproductive age (15-49), belonging to polygynous families. Data are analyzed using multiple analytical techniques, including Chi-Square tests, negative binomial regression, and marginal plots.

The results reveal that higher educational attainment is significantly associated with reduced fertility, with the decline being most pronounced at secondary and higher education levels. However, the interaction between education and employment status demonstrates that education alone is insufficient to lower fertility unless it translates into paid employment. Unemployed women consistently exhibit higher fertility, even among those with higher education, except at the secondary level.