Page 8 - IJPS-11-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Role of nuptiality patterns to fertility

1. Introduction 18, dropping from 63% in 2011 to 58% in 2016 among
those of reproductive age (Central Statistical Agency
The idea that changes in nuptiality are part of a demographic [CSA] [Ethiopia] and ICF, 2011; 2016). The age at which
transition was conceptualized in the 1960s (Muhoza, someone gets married influences fertility in two manners.
2022). The nuptiality patterns of any country influence First, marrying at a young age is directly linked to having
the level of fertility (Erulkar, 2022). Fertility changes in children early, which results in bigger family size because
sub-Saharan Africa are intricately tied to the institution of an extended period of potential childbearing. Second,
of marriage. In this context, marriage is often depicted as postponing marriage directly impacts the overall fertility
the primary framework for childbearing, reflecting deeply within marriage by reducing the number of years couples
rooted cultural norms and societal expectations (John & can have children (Palameleni, 2011).
Adjiwanou, 2022). Fertility rates represent that the average
number of children a woman is expected to have over The contribution of shifts in nuptiality patterns to the
her lifetime, offering valuable insights into population fertility transition among Ethiopian women is significant
trends (Taye et al., 2024). The number of children born and multifaceted (Kedir et al., 2024). Marriage and fertility
is a critical indicator in population studies, influencing are institutions that comprise a fundamental part of life.
a country’s population size, age structure, and overall The universality and early marriage ensured that women
demographic composition. It refers to the total number spent most of their reproductive lives married, and
of live births of women within a specified age group, marriage was the central pillar of childbearing. However,
calculated as the average number of live births per woman while both institutions have transformed in recent
in that cohort (Kiser & Hossain, 2019). Fertility serves as decades, changes in relationships between marriage and
a vital demographic indicator for any country, and the fertility have not yet been explored (Sayi, 2015). Further,
focus on the number of children ever born is central to the existing studies have examined fertility determinants,
understanding fertility transitions in depth. but few have focused explicitly on how shifts in marriage
age and patterns influence overall fertility rates (Hertrich,
Marriage among women in most Sub-Sahara Africa is 2017; Shapiro & Gebreselassie, 2014). Thus, this study
often characterized as early and nearly universal. The rising aims to fill this gap by exploring the relationship between
age at first marriage, in turn, has played an important role changing nuptiality patterns and fertility transition among
in the ongoing fertility transition (Shapiro & Gebreselassie, Ethiopian women, with the hope of providing updated
2014). The age at which the women marry is one of the evidence of how changes in nuptiality patterns contribute
primary determinants of fertility. Women who marry early, to fertility transition.
on average, are more likely to have their first child at a young
age and give birth to many children, obviously contributing 1.1. Theoretical grounding of the study
to high fertility (Shakya & Gubhaju, 2016). A decline in Diffusion theory provides a valuable framework for
fertility is linked to the transition from marrying early to understanding how changes in nuptiality patterns influenced
marrying later in life. The percentage of people getting the lifetime fertility transition in Ethiopia between 2000
married at various ages varies significantly across countries and 2016. This theory explains how new ideas, innovations,
and changes over time, exerting notable influences on technologies, or practices spread within a society or
fertility rates. It has been reported that delaying the age of from one society to another across time. The shift from
marriage is a viable strategy to lower fertility, particularly early marriage to later marriage, as well as the increasing
in populations with limited contraceptive usage or access acceptance of cohabitation and singlehood, represents an
to induced abortion services (Muhoza, 2022). innovation in social norms regarding marriage (Pandey
The process and timing of marriage differed by et al., 2018). Different segments of the population adopt
economic and social demographics. The age of a woman new marriage patterns at varying rates. Early adopters,
at initial childbirth is a crucial factor in shaping her often more educated women, led the way in delaying
future life and is directly connected to her lifetime fertility marriage and having fewer children, setting examples for
(Chernet et al., 2019). While marriage is still regarded as others. The changing cultural and economic landscape,
a prerequisite for childbearing in Italy (Vitali & Billari, including increased educational opportunities for women
2017), the revised Ethiopian Family Code Proclamation of and improved access to family planning resources, created
2000 has set the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 for a conducive environment for these changes in nuptiality
both genders. However, the country still experiences one patterns (Zabak et al., 2023). As nuptiality patterns became
of the highest rates of early marriage among sub-Saharan more widespread, they contributed to significant changes
Africans (Gazeta, 2000). There has been a slight decrease in reproductive behaviors, leading to a notable decline in
in the proportion of women marrying before the age of lifetime fertility rates (Gatera, 2021).

Volume 11 Issue 3 (2025) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.5749