Women Empowerment and Child Development in Nigeria

Ibukun Awofisibe, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan
Joshua O. Akinyemi, University of Ibadan
Timilehin Oladosu, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. Ibadan, Nigeria

Recent estimates suggest that around 43% of children under five in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are at risk of not reaching their full developmental potential, largely due to factors like stunting and poverty. This study explores the relationship between various dimensions of women’s empowerment—specifically social independence and attitudes towards gender-based violence—and child development outcomes. Data from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) was analyzed, focusing on child development indicators such as physical development, learning development, socio-emotional development, and literacy-numeracy, which were used to generate an Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI). The women’s empowerment index was based on two indices: attitude towards violence and social independence. Results showed no significant association between maternal social independence and a child’s literacy-numeracy development (OR=1.01, 95% CI=0.35, 2.92). However, children of mothers with higher social independence were more likely to be on track for physical development (OR=3.79, 95% CI=1.46, 9.80). There was no association between maternal attitudes towards violence and child development outcomes. The findings suggest that women’s social independence positively influences physical development, while no link was found between attitudes towards violence and child development in Nigeria.

Keywords: Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Families, Unions and Households, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

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