FERTILITY LEVEL IMPLIED BY THE 2008 NDHS DATA

The fertility level implied by the 2008 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data has been discussed in this paper using both the reported and adjusted current and life-time fertility measures. The Brass P/F ratio method and Brass Relational Gompertz model were applied to obtain estimates of age-specific fertility rates(ASFRs) and total fertility rate(TFRs) used for the discussions. The 2008 NDHS data were used to discuss the current fertility level and age pattern in Nigeria. The 1990, 1999 and 2003NDHS data were used in combination with the 2008 NDHS data to discuss the fertility trend in Nigeria, while comparing them with data from some selected countries of the world. The results of the analyses show that the fertility level in Nigeria is high when compared with the fertility levels in the developed and some developing countries. However, there are indications that it is declining though at a slow pace. There are indications also that the true level and trend of fertility in Nigeria may be confounded by the intra-national differences in levels and trend. Effective family planning service delivery and empowerment of women economically and academically have been recommended as a way of improving the pace of fertility decline.