In Nigeria, which has one of the highest birth rates in the world, 92% of married women do not use contraceptives and 55% say they never intend to, according to the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The fertility rate is 5.7 children per woman, and the women think 7 children is the ideal number. The men think 9 children is the ideal number. Only 0.2% of Nigerians say they don’t use contraceptives because services are not available, and only 0.2% cite cost as a barrier.

Of all births in Nigeria:
87% were wanted at the time and another
7% were wanted, but not until later
4% were unwanted.
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The literature generally points to a negative relationship between female education and fertility. Citing this pattern, policymakers have advocated educating girls and young women as a means to reduce population growth and foster sustained economic and social welfare in developing countries. This paper tests whether the relationship between fertility and education is indeed causal by investigating the introduction of universal primary education in Nigeria. Exploiting differences in program exposure by region and age, the paper presents reduced form and instrumental variables estimates of the impact of female education on fertility. The analysis suggests that increasing female education by one year reduces early fertility by 0.26 births.

For full article, visit:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science

Participatory Assessment of Gugar Goge, an Entertainment-Education Radio Soap Opera in Nigeria – A Qualitative Assessment Report

by Arvind Singhal, Sarah Hurlburt and Radha Vij

This report documents the results of a participatory assessment exercise conducted in Nigeria to gauge audience reception of Gugar Goge (“Tell It To Me Straight”), an entertainment-education radio soap opera produced by Population Media Center that sought to promote education for girls, the delay of marriage and pregnancies, and the adoption of family planning and maternal health services to both prevent and treat obstetric fistula. The assessment exercise, which used participatory sketching and participatory photography, aimed to assess how frequent listeners engaged with the radio programme, and how they derived personal meanings from its plot, characters, and educational messages.

For full article, visit:http://www.comminit.com/en/node/269041/38

Launched in July 2007, this is a 2-year radio serial drama being produced by Population Media Center (PMC) in Nigeria. Through character role-models, the drama aims to enhance knowledge and use of existing health services, provide information about reproductive and general health issues, encourage family planning, and promote delaying marriage and childbearing until adulthood. It also aims to promote small family norms, provide information about HIV transmission, and motivate people to take actions to improve their health and the health of their families.

One of the storylines is about Azumi, who is pregnant while breastfeeding her four-month-old son. Azumi becomes very sick and nearly dies during the delivery of her son. The couple’s story explores the need for birth spacing and contraception in the context of cultural and social demands to have many children quickly.

For full article, visit:
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/269771/38

Andrew Holtz has done a nice article covering PMC’s work in Nigeria.

Dateline Nigeria (PDF, 130KB)

Participatory Assessment of Gugar Goge, an Entertainment-Education: A Qualitative Assessment Report
by Arvind Singhal, Sarah Hurlburt, and Radha Vij

This report documents the results of a participatory assessment exercise conducted in Nigeria to gauge audience reception of Gugar Goge (“Tell It To Me Straight”), an entertainment-education radio soap opera that sought to promote education for girls, the delay of marriage and pregnancies, and the adoption of family planning and maternal health services. The assessment exercise, which used participatory sketching and participatory photography, aimed to assess how frequent listeners engaged with the radio programme, and how they derived personal meanings from its plot, characters, and educational messages.

For full article, visit:
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/269041/304

Soul Beat Africa is carrying a story on PMC’s Nigeria program, Ruwan Dare (Midnight Rain).

The article can be viewed at http://www.comminit.com/en/node/269771.

Whatever Dennis Miller decides to plant this year on his 2,760-acre farm, the world needs. Wheat prices have doubled in the last six months. Corn is on a tear. Barley, sunflower seeds, canola and soybeans are all up sharply.

“For once, there’s great reason to be optimistic,” Mr. Miller said.

But the prices that have renewed Mr. Miller’s faith in farming are causing pain far and wide. A tailor in Lagos, Nigeria, named Abel Ojuku said recently that he had been forced to cut back on the bread he and his family love.

For full article, visit:
http://www.nytimes.com

Soul Beat Africa has a summary of the study, “Participatory Assessment of Gugar Goge, an Entertainment-Education, A Radio Soap Opera in Nigeria: Qualitative Assessment Report” in the evaluations section of their website, at:
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/269041.

Soul Beat Africa has a story about PMC’s work in Nigeria at:

http://www.comminit.com/en/node/134360