On variations in poverty determinants in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the variations in the determinants of poverty in Nigeria. Using two survey datasets, it uses correlation and regression analyses for urban, rural and the entire country. In the urban sector the significant variables were percentage of adult females with ages from 15-49 exposed to all three media not less than once in a week, percentage of currently married adult females with ages from 15-49 by number of co-wives, percentage of adult females with ages from 15-49 not employed in the year just before the survey and percentage of children delivered in a health facility; in the rural sector the variables were percentage of adult males with ages from 15-49 exposed to all three media not less than once in a week, percentage of adult males with ages from 15-49 not employed in the year just before the survey, percentages of adult females and males with ages from 15-49 who have heard of HIV/AIDs; and for the whole country the significant variables were percentage of adult females with ages from 15-49 exposed to all three media not less than once in a week, percentage of adult males with ages from 15-49 who watched television not less than once in a week and percentage of currently married adult females with ages from 15-49 by number of co-wives. The implication of these results is that the percentage of adult females with ages from 15-49 exposed to all three media not less than once in a week is the major determinant of poverty. This study therefore recommends that literacy of women should be encouraged as a possible intervention policy to reduce the effects of poverty in Nigeria.

Keywords: Poverty determinants, psychological distress, poverty measurement, per capita expenditure