Globally, infertility affects approximately 5 to 8% of married couples, with rates particularly high in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where between 10 to 30% of couples in Nigeria alone are affected. According to the World Health Organization, infertility—defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after at least 12 months of unprotected intercourse—has numerous causes in both men and women, yet comprehensive data on its prevalence remains scarce.
Data shows that infertility prevalence varies with the duration of trying to conceive. A 2017 report highlighted that among married women attempting pregnancy without contraception, 31.1% had not conceived after 12 months, while 17.7% had not conceived by 24 months, and 11.5% by 36 months. These findings underscore that significant delays in conception are not uncommon, even as longer timeframes generally see increased conception success. Over the past 60 years, however, Nigeria has seen a marked decline in fertility rates—from an average of over seven children per woman in the 1960s to five in 2022, according to World Bank data.
While declining fertility rates reflect broader socioeconomic changes, Nigeria’s high infertility rates have driven the emergence of unregulated “baby factories” across the country. These clandestine operations, while offering a solution for some, involve unethical practices that often exploit young women and forcefully separate children from their birth mothers. In 2020 alone, Nigerian authorities rescued more than 160 infants from illegal orphanages in the capital, Abuja, with reports that some babies were taken directly from their mothers without consent.
Analysis by Dataphyte reveals that baby factories are more commonly found in Southern Nigeria, where fertility rates tend to be lower. While these factories may appear as a response to demand, experts emphasize that they often exploit vulnerable women and young girls, creating an illicit industry rather than addressing underlying infertility issues.
The relationship between contraceptive use and fertility has also come under scrutiny. Although higher contraceptive use, especially in southern regions, correlates with fewer births per woman, studies indicate that contraceptives do not cause long-term infertility. A study by Tadele Girum and Abebaw Wasie found that fertility typically resumes after discontinuing contraceptive use, regardless of the type or duration of contraception used.
Dr. Ebunoluwa Soyinka, a medical officer, reiterates this point, explaining that contraceptives are designed to temporarily prevent pregnancy, not impair fertility. For couples facing infertility, legal options such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), adoption, and surrogacy offer safe and ethical alternatives to unregulated baby factories. While IVF can be costly, adoption and surrogacy provide additional pathways for those struggling to conceive.
“No one should resort to baby factories,” Dr. Soyinka stresses. “These operations are not only illegal but often involve coercion, with many children taken forcibly from their mothers. There are ethical, legal routes to building a family, and we must promote these over dangerous, exploitative practices.”
As infertility remains a significant yet underreported issue in Nigeria and beyond, raising awareness about the challenges and available solutions is essential. Through accessible and ethical options, couples can pursue family building while avoiding the risks and trauma associated with illegal and unregulated practices.
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