A STATISTICAL STUDY OF FERTILITY BEHAVIOUR AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS IN ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA
Keywords:
Fertility behaviour, Civil servants, Poisson distribution, Negative binomial regression, Anambra State, Work-life balance, Family planning policiesAbstract
This study investigates the factors influencing fertility behaviors among civil servants in Anambra State, Nigeria, and evaluates the effectiveness of existing public policies in promoting work-life balance. A cross-sectional survey design was used, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. A sample of 482 civil servants was selected through stratified random sampling. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Generalized Linear Models (GLM) including Poisson and negative binomial regression, chi-square tests, and mixed-effect models to explore relationships between demographic variables and fertility outcomes. The findings reveal that fertility rates significantly differ by age, gender, and marital status, with civil servants aged 40-49 having the highest mean number of children (3.50). Poisson regression analysis identified age and marital status as significant predictors of fertility, with p-values less than 0.05, indicating their strong influence on the number of children ever born. Chi-square tests highlighted significant differences in family planning method preferences across demographic subgroups. Mixed-effect models, accounting for the clustering effect of location, further confirmed that age, gender, level of education, marital status, and location are significant predictors of fertility behavior. Negative binomial regression revealed that the timing of childbearing, its perceived importance in marriage, and societal pressure to have multiple children are key factors influencing fertility. The study concludes that targeted policy interventions are needed to address the specific fertility and family planning needs of civil servants, particularly those in the most fertile age groups. Recommendations include more flexible work arrangements and enhanced parental leave policies to better support the reproductive goals of civil servants, thereby improving work-life balance and job satisfaction.
