Desired family size and sex of children in Nigeria

During 1981, sex ratio data and preferences for family size and for combinations and permutations of children were provided by 333 Nigerian students at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. For the present and parental generations combined, the secondary sex ratio was estimated to be 95.8 males...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of heredity Vol. 74; no. 3; p. 204
Main Authors Gray, E, Hurt, V K, Oyewole, S O
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.05.1983
Subjects
Family Characteristics
Female
Humans
Male
Nigeria
Sex Factors
Sex Ratio
Nigeria
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Summary:During 1981, sex ratio data and preferences for family size and for combinations and permutations of children were provided by 333 Nigerian students at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. For the present and parental generations combined, the secondary sex ratio was estimated to be 95.8 males:100 females. In the projected families, preferences for family sizes resulted in an average of 4.88 children per family. The most preferred family consisted of four children--a 2m2f combination in a mfmf order, whereas the second most preferred family consisted of five children--3m2f combination in a mfmfm order. Also expressed was a strong preference for permutations of sexes, resulting in a male child as first-born followed by an alternation of sexes. A greater preference for male children was indicated by the combined sex ratio of 167 males:100 females for the preferred families.
ISSN:0022-1503
1465-7333
DOI:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a109767