THE SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT OF HIGH FERTILITY AMONG IGBO WOMEN

The Igboland of Nigeria has been under the influence of socio-economic change since the tum of the century, as typified by a high literarcy rate, a highly migratory population, the predominance of Christianity, and built-up towns and villages. Yet Igbo fertility has remained high even by Nigerian standards. Part of the explanation for high Igbo fer tility is the prevalence of peculiar socio-cultural institutions which tend to encourage or support high fertility. In this study fertility differentials, reproductive behaviour and fertility preferences and in tentions are examined as a function of three well-recognised cultural institutions or contextual factors: the bestowal of high fertility hon our or title to women of a given family size, patriarchal relations, a nd patrilinearity and son preference, together with individual status indicators. Our findings suggest that socio-cultural institutions esta blish or condition relationships and behaviours among the Igbo; in oth er words, individual fertility behaviour takes place within the contex t of complex social organisation and under the influence of multiple s ocial, cultural and ideological realities.