Effects of Internal Migration and Region of Residence on Women's Empowerment in Nigeria: A Multilevel Analysis

Ugochukwu Asogwa, University of Nigeria
Chukwuedozie Ajaero, University of Nigeria Nsukka(UNN)
Oliver Razum, Bielefeld University, Germany
Ijeoma Ajaero, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

This study investigated the contextual correlates of migration status and region of residence on women's empowerment in Nigeria. Data was from the women's record of the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variables were composite indices of household decision making power, financial decision-making, acceptance of wife beating, and sexual rights. Analyses were carried out using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and multilevel logistic regression models. More of the women (42%) reported good sexual right index, 32.% were involved in household decision making, 26% in financial decision making while wife beating was acceptable to 9%. The full model indicated lower odds of women empowerment in household decision making (OR=0.30, CI = [0.15- 0.58]), financial decision making (OR =0.60, CI = [0.34- 1.07]), sexual right (OR = 0.16, CI = [0.09- 0.27]), and acceptance of wife beating (OR = 0.14, CI = [0.06- 0.31]). Conversely, the contextual variables of being a resident of the southeast region and an urban-rural migrant significantly increased the odds of women empowerment in at least two of the outcome variables. Other variables which significantly increased the odds of women empowerment in at least three of the outcome indices were richest wealth quintile, ethnicity, and education.

Keywords: Gender Dynamics, Families, Unions and Households, Multi-level modeling , Neighbourhood/contextual effect analysis

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