Age at First Marriage and Children Ever Born In Ghana

Abstract

In Ghana the fertility rate of 4.2 children per woman is still greater than the global average of 2.53. In view of this, various policies and strategies have been adopted to make family planning programs and methods available so as to bring about a reduction in fertility. However this has not yielded the desired results since fertility has not observed much decline. This current study examines the relationship between age at first marriage and children ever born in Ghana by the use of the Ghana demographic and health survey 2014 dataset. The study sample included women who are in a marital union. The results showed an inverse relationship between age at first marriage and children ever born (r = -0.289, p<0.001). Data analysis using Pearson correlation, analysis of variance and ordinary least square regression was done. The multivariate analysis confirmed age at first marriage was significant and negatively linked to a woman’s number of children ever born (B= -0.079, P<0.001). Again some background characteristics such as education of the woman, ethnicity, religion, region of residence, wealth index and partner’s education were significantly related to children ever born. The study recommends that the current practice of giving females higher admission quotas is encouraged at all levels. Also ethnic and cultural practices that promote early marriage, particularly in rural communities should be abolished.