Explaining marital patterns and trends in namibia: a regression analysis of 1992, 2000 and 2006 demographic and survey data.
BACKGROUND: Marriage is a significant event in life-course of individuals, and creates a system that characterizes societal and economic structures. Marital patterns and dynamics over the years have changed a lot, with decreasing proportions of marriage, increased levels of divorce and co-habitation...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2013-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3744526?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818932441618841600 |
|---|---|
| author | Lillian Pazvakawambwa Nelago Indongo Lawrence N Kazembe |
| author_facet | Lillian Pazvakawambwa Nelago Indongo Lawrence N Kazembe |
| author_sort | Lillian Pazvakawambwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BACKGROUND: Marriage is a significant event in life-course of individuals, and creates a system that characterizes societal and economic structures. Marital patterns and dynamics over the years have changed a lot, with decreasing proportions of marriage, increased levels of divorce and co-habitation in developing countries. Although, such changes have been reported in African societies including Namibia, they have largely remained unexplained. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: IN THIS PAPER, WE EXAMINED TRENDS AND PATTERNS OF MARITAL STATUS OF WOMEN OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE: 15 to 49 years, in Namibia using the 1992, 2000 and 2006 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data. Trends were established for selected demographic variables. Two binary logistic regression models for ever-married versus never married, and cohabitation versus married were fitted to establish factors associated with such nuptial systems. Further a multinomial logistic regression models, adjusted for bio-demographic and socio-economic variables, were fitted separately for each year, to establish determinants of type of union (never married, married and cohabitation). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate a general change away from marriage, with a shift in singulate mean age at marriage. Cohabitation was prevalent among those less than 30 years of age, the odds were higher in urban areas and increased since 1992. Be as it may marriage remained a persistent nuptiality pattern, and common among the less educated and employed, but lower odds in urban areas. Results from multinomial model suggest that marital status was associated with age at marriage, total children born, region, place of residence, education level and religion. We conclude that marital patterns have undergone significant transformation over the past two decades in Namibia, with a coexistence of traditional marriage framework with co-habitation, and sizeable proportion remaining unmarried to the late 30s. A shift in the singulate mean age is becoming distinctive in the Namibian society. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T04:32:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f1d7fda9c3a4e6d8db341facf30628b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T04:32:32Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f1d7fda9c3a4e6d8db341facf30628b2022-12-21T19:53:21ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0188e7039410.1371/journal.pone.0070394Explaining marital patterns and trends in namibia: a regression analysis of 1992, 2000 and 2006 demographic and survey data.Lillian PazvakawambwaNelago IndongoLawrence N KazembeBACKGROUND: Marriage is a significant event in life-course of individuals, and creates a system that characterizes societal and economic structures. Marital patterns and dynamics over the years have changed a lot, with decreasing proportions of marriage, increased levels of divorce and co-habitation in developing countries. Although, such changes have been reported in African societies including Namibia, they have largely remained unexplained. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: IN THIS PAPER, WE EXAMINED TRENDS AND PATTERNS OF MARITAL STATUS OF WOMEN OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE: 15 to 49 years, in Namibia using the 1992, 2000 and 2006 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data. Trends were established for selected demographic variables. Two binary logistic regression models for ever-married versus never married, and cohabitation versus married were fitted to establish factors associated with such nuptial systems. Further a multinomial logistic regression models, adjusted for bio-demographic and socio-economic variables, were fitted separately for each year, to establish determinants of type of union (never married, married and cohabitation). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate a general change away from marriage, with a shift in singulate mean age at marriage. Cohabitation was prevalent among those less than 30 years of age, the odds were higher in urban areas and increased since 1992. Be as it may marriage remained a persistent nuptiality pattern, and common among the less educated and employed, but lower odds in urban areas. Results from multinomial model suggest that marital status was associated with age at marriage, total children born, region, place of residence, education level and religion. We conclude that marital patterns have undergone significant transformation over the past two decades in Namibia, with a coexistence of traditional marriage framework with co-habitation, and sizeable proportion remaining unmarried to the late 30s. A shift in the singulate mean age is becoming distinctive in the Namibian society.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3744526?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Lillian Pazvakawambwa Nelago Indongo Lawrence N Kazembe Explaining marital patterns and trends in namibia: a regression analysis of 1992, 2000 and 2006 demographic and survey data. PLoS ONE |
| title | Explaining marital patterns and trends in namibia: a regression analysis of 1992, 2000 and 2006 demographic and survey data. |
| title_full | Explaining marital patterns and trends in namibia: a regression analysis of 1992, 2000 and 2006 demographic and survey data. |
| title_fullStr | Explaining marital patterns and trends in namibia: a regression analysis of 1992, 2000 and 2006 demographic and survey data. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Explaining marital patterns and trends in namibia: a regression analysis of 1992, 2000 and 2006 demographic and survey data. |
| title_short | Explaining marital patterns and trends in namibia: a regression analysis of 1992, 2000 and 2006 demographic and survey data. |
| title_sort | explaining marital patterns and trends in namibia a regression analysis of 1992 2000 and 2006 demographic and survey data |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3744526?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lillianpazvakawambwa explainingmaritalpatternsandtrendsinnamibiaaregressionanalysisof19922000and2006demographicandsurveydata AT nelagoindongo explainingmaritalpatternsandtrendsinnamibiaaregressionanalysisof19922000and2006demographicandsurveydata AT lawrencenkazembe explainingmaritalpatternsandtrendsinnamibiaaregressionanalysisof19922000and2006demographicandsurveydata |