MODELLING GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS OF PARITY LEVELS IN THE FACE OF FAMILY PLANNING METHODS IN NIGERIA

High parity is common in most sub-Saharan Africa countries and Nigeria is equally battling with the menace. Understanding the level, trend and geographical variations of high parity level of any country is important to proffering solution despite the availability of various family planning methods. This study assessed these characteristics in Nigeria using data from the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey data set for women who started cohabiting with men before 18 years old. A Bayesian geo- additive procedure was used with Poisson regression model. Three models were developed of which Model M3 had the smallest deviance information criterion (DIC). The findings discovered significant geographic variation in parity levels in Nigeria, with a north–south division. The use of any form of contraceptives was found to be significantly less likely to have impact on women with high parity in Nigeria. Policy makers must improve on awareness programs among productive women.