Application of Multinomial Logistic Regression Model on Factors that Affects the Need for Children Among Ethiopian Women

Abstract

Habitu Liyew Molla, Turufat Seifu Moges

Background: Need for children (desire for children), is one of the major factors influencing the population dynamics. Like other fertility preferences, it is not fixed but changes over the family life course in respect to actual fertility experiences and outcomes. The objective of this study was to identify socio-economic and demographic factors that affect the need for another child (desire for more children) among Ethiopian women of reproductive age (15-49).

Methods: The study was based on Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), 2016 data. A total of 15,683 women with complete information were considered in the study. A Multinomial Logistic Regression Model, a family of generalized non-linear models, were used to identify determinant factors for the need to children (desire for children) among women in Ethiopia using STATA 14 and SPSS 23.

Results: Results showed that among the reproductive age women’s 65.51% were need to have childe, and their average age was 25.05, 27.18% were don’t like to have child and their average age was 35.73, the rest 7.31% of the women were not decide where they need children or not and their average age was 24.8.From multinomial logistic regression model, Region, contraception using (for yes 0.658293 (0.58889, 0.73586) for undecided 0.6310024 (0.50151, 0.79394)), marital status, age of women(for yes 0.896552 (0.88968, 0.90348) for undecided 0.9282431 (0.91632, 0.94033)), number of living children, religion, age at first marriage ( for yes1.057528 (1.04363, 1.07161) for undecided 1.041 (1.01434,1.06836)), wealth index, women’s employment and women’s education were significant effect on the need for children among Ethiopian women.

Conclusions: This study was based on a nationwide large sample demographic and survey conducted by the Ethiopian Statistical Agency. The study has empirically investigated and identified the determinants factors that affect the need for children among Ethiopian women. The multinomial logistic regression model analysis identified that variables such as marital status, contraception using, number of living children, age at first marriage and age of women play vital role in deciding on weather women need to have children or not. Region contraceptive using women’s employment, women’s education level and number of living children have negatively associated with outcome variable.

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