Changing Gender Roles and Opportunity Cost of Childbearing: Implications for Family Size in Sub-Sahara Africa

Olaide A. Adedokun, Lagos State University
Oluwagbemiga E. Adeyemi, Federal University
Kolawole Olowe, The West African Management Development Institutes Network
Fakayode Elizabeth, Kwara State Polytechnic

The impact of economic recession in most African countries and continuing dispersal of gender egalitarianism have weakened the dominance of men as breadwinners for their families. . It is therefore imperative to unravel the impact of changing gender roles on the cost of bearing children in sub-Sahara Africa. Demographic and Health surveys data were used for the quantitative analysis while three statistical methods were used to analyze the data. The study established positive significant differentials between female bread winners and use of modern contraceptives in all the countries except in Nigeria, while significant inverse relationship was confirmed with female breadwinners and waiting time for the next child in Congo and Nigeria. The study also reaffirmed the significant inverse relationship between women economic dependency on fertility in all the countries except Congo. The study concludes that empowering women will not only reduce fertility but also a key to poverty reduction.