Measuring the causal effect of women’s schooling on contraceptive use in Nigeria
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Date
2019-09-03
Authors
Ajefu, J.B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Routledge
Abstract
This paper uses the 2008 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey to
investigate the effect of women’s schooling on contraceptive use.
In order to control for endogeneity of women’s schooling, this
paper uses an instrumental variable approach, with the free
primary education programme in Nigeria introduced from 1976 to
1981, as an instrument for women’s schooling. The paper finds
that the education of women increases the probability of using
contraceptives. Disaggregating the results between traditional and
modern contraceptive use, the results show a positive and
significant impact of women’s education on both modern and
traditional contraceptive use. The findings of the study lend
credence to the evidence that birth control measures can lead to
better timing and spacing of births that allow women to
significantly expand their economic opportunities and life
prospects. These have implications for women’s economic
empowerment and gender equality, which are vital for any
sustainable development policy.
Description
Keywords
Female , schooling , causal , effect , contraceptives , Nigeria
Citation
Joseph Boniface Ajefu (2019) Measuring the causal effect of women’s schooling on contraceptive use in Nigeria, Development Southern Africa, 36:5, 716-729,