Page 53 - IJPS-11-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Single mother spatial distribution in Nigeria

Figure 3. Maps of Nigeria showing the estimated spatiotemporal patterns of the prevalence of single motherhood in Nigeria based on a model that
accounts for the observed covariates. The maps were created by the authors.

higher prevalence rates compared with northern states In contrast, the northern states continued to maintain
such as Niger, Zamfara, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Katsina, lower prevalence rates, with states such as Niger, Zamfara,
and Yobe, where prevalence remained notably lower. Benue Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Katsina, and Yobe consistently
state in the North-Central region also displayed higher showing the lowest prevalence rates. States in the South-
prevalence rates, diverging from the northern trends. In South region, particularly Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and
2008, these spatial patterns persisted, with states in the Rivers, continued to exhibit the highest prevalence rates.
South-South region maintaining high prevalence rates of Considering the minimal difference between the maps in
single motherhood. Benue state continued to exhibit higher Figures 2 and 3, it is evident that the observed covariates
prevalence, aligning closer to the southern patterns than had minimal effects on the spatiotemporal distribution of
the northern trends. Northern states generally maintained single motherhood in Nigeria.
lower prevalence rates, with variations observed in Taraba Figure 4 presents the results for the age of women, which
state, which showed increased prevalence compared with was estimated using a random walk prior that enabled the
that in 2003. In 2013, the prevalence of single motherhood visualization of the functional relationship between age
in the South-South became even more pronounced, and the likelihood of being a single mother. The result
particularly in states such as Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
Taraba state in the North-East region exhibited increased shows that the likelihood of being a single mother peaked
at about 18 years and declined thereafter with every unit
prevalence. The South-West states, particularly Ekiti and increase in age until about age 30, at which point where the
Ondo, continued to display significant prevalence rates, but
spatial patterns remained generally lower in the northern curve rises and the rising pattern continues for the rest of
states. By 2018, the spatial patterns had intensified, with the reproductive age.
the South-South region, particularly Cross River and Akwa Table 1 presents the results of the linear parameters,
Ibom, exhibiting the highest prevalence rates of single showing the odds ratio (OR), standard errors, and 95%
motherhood in Nigeria. The state of rivers also showed credible intervals (CI). Findings show that the odds
notable prevalence. The South-West states, including of single motherhood are higher among women who
Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, and Imo, as well as Abia in the live in urban centers than among those living in rural
South-East region, displayed significant prevalence rates. communities (OR = 1.662; 95% CI: 1.561, 1.770). Similarly,

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 47 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.4313