ArticlePloS one2025
Parental preferences for sex of children in Nigeria: Cultural influences and family structure.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Parental satisfaction with neonatal care in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria: a multicenter cross-sectional study.BMC pediatrics · 2026Article
- Gender-based discrimination towards cisgender women in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review of definitions and measures used in the health literature.BMJ public health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNigeria is characterized by deeply rooted traditional practices that often amplify gender bias. Despite this, there is limited research examining the relationship between cultural and family characteristics and parental sex preference in Nigeria. To address this gap, we investigated how cultural factors and family structure is associated with parental sex preferences in the country.
methodsThis study utilized data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS). Parental sex preference for children served as the outcome variable, while family structure and cultural background were the explanatory variables. Descriptive analyses, including frequencies, percentages, and cross-tabulations, were used to characterize the sample. Due to the unordered categorical nature of the outcome variable, a multinomial logistic regression model was employed to assess the impact of culture and family structure on parental sex preference.
resultsA higher proportion of women preferred more girls compared to men (15.64% vs 6.85%), while more men expressed a preference for boys than women (52.48% vs 26.2%). Men with more sons were significantly more likely (RRR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.23-1.78) to prefer more boys over an equal number of boys and girls, compared to men with equal numbers of sons and daughters. Similarly, women with more sons were more likely (RRR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.45-1.77) to prefer more boys rather than an equal number of boys and girls, compared to women with equal numbers of sons and daughters.
conclusionThese findings shed light for understanding gender dynamics and informing policies that promote gender equality and balanced family structures. Such policies are critical for enhancing family planning practices and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. With only six years left to meet these targets, we urge all stakeholders to collaborate and intensify efforts to drive meaningful progress.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.