Religion and fertility among the Atyap in Nigeria

Using data obtained in 1995 from 600 Atyap women in randomly selected dwellings in Kaduna State, Nigeria, multiple regression analysis shows that Catholics and other Protestants (Anglicans and Baptists) have higher fertility than women affiliated to the Evangelical Churches of West Africa (ECWA), even net of compositional characteristics of the two groups. Above and beyond the denominational differences, the regression analysis also shows that the stronger the religious belief, the higher the fertility. Thus, the study underscores the need for researchers of the religion-fertility association in Nigeria to examine the influence of religious denomination and religiosity on fertility, within each of the main religions.