SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF FERTILITY ON FAMILY INCOME IN ANAMBRA STATE: IMPERATIVE FOR SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION

Abstract

Ever since Malthus theory, economists have been focused on how fertility impacts economic growth, standards of living, instruments of governance, such as national allocations, as well as availability of infrastructure. This study examines the various ways fertility impacts on family income which has implications on the social and cultural lives of families in Awka, Anambra State Data was obtained from 120 respondents from five randomly selected communities in Awka-South local Government Area. In executing this study, the survey method was adopted using questionnaire instrument. The chi square statistical method was employed to establish significant relationships among study variables in the postulated hypotheses. A significant negative correlation was found between family income and fertility. Also, it was identified that certain variables affect the relationship and these includes Age at marriage, sex distribution of children, level of education, income, religion. It was thus recommended that the government through her ministries of education, health and social welfare, should one; make education and access to birth control facilities and materials readily available so as to check population growth rate and foster economic growth, two; use social workers to intensify campaign against male preference using various channels, since female gender can as well contribute as much as male to family wellbeing.