Effects of Beliefs and Economic Status on Family Size in Kano Metroplis, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Thisstudy examines the effects of cultural beliefs on gender preferences and family size in Kano Metropolis of
Kano State in Nigeria. The study used questionnaire and interviews to obtain data on family size, income and
ages of parents; the preferences and choices of certain sexes. Descriptive statistics like measures of central
tendency, graphs and charts were used for the analysis. The findings showed high birth rate or fertility among
couples due to desire to attain certain gender combination. It was also found that traditional title holders,
businessmen and lower income earners in the study area beget more children than the educated elites because of
the belief that the children are assets. There is also a belief that certain sex is better than others even among
wealthy individuals who abhor more children with preference to sons than daughters. Some of the reasons
attached to this preference include the assistance sons render at home and market; they serve as source of
security at old age as well as heirs of family continuity. It was also found that many families tend to give birth to
large number of children in the quest of getting a son(s) especially if the early children are females. Another
factor is the cultural belief that encourages polygamy, one of the co-wives may have many males, hence, this
triggers competition trying to have modal set. Socio-economic and socio-cultural status show some variations in
these trends. Preferences of sex and many children are more common to polygamous couples than in
monogamous family. The study recommended theneed for enlightenment among the people to consider both
sexes as complementary to one another to reduce the degree of preferences.