TRENDS AND FACTORS AFFECTING THE INTERVAL FROM MARRIAGE TO FIRST BIRTH AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN NIGERIA

The shorter the time interval between marriage and first birth, the sooner subsequent pregnancies are likely to occur in the absence of contraceptives and family planning. This can have negative impacts on the mother, children and society. This study explores the trend in the time between marriage and the first birth among Nigerian women.

Kaplan-Meier's estimation and multilevel survival models were used to analyze data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) records from 1990, 2003, 2008 and 2013. The study focused on women who entered marriage without children or pregnancy. The surveys employed a two-stage cluster sampling method. Variables extracted included birth cohort, age at sexual initiation, age at first marriage, age at first birth, educational level, religion, place of residence, knowledge of contraceptive and ovulatory cycle.

The results indicated that the median time to first birth after marriage decreased from 2 years to 1 year. Significant factors associated with a higher likelihood of having first birth shortly after marriage included having primary education (HR = 1.17; CI=1.14-1.21), knowledge of contraceptives (HR= 1.21; CI =1.20-1.26, ovulation cycle (HR=1.21, CI=1.18-1.25), marriage above 19 years (HR = 1.19, CI=1.15-1.25), women residing in South east (HR= 1.17, CI =1.10-1.22), South West (HR = 1.30, C.I=1.24-1.37) and community influence (p=1.37, ICC = 0.06).

The reduced time to first birth after marriage underscores the need for policy-makers to promote higher level education and family planning among women of reproductive age in Nigeria.