Abstract
The research is an in-depth analysis of childlessness and socio-cultural impact on married couples in Abraka urban community of Kogi State. The study explored ways of reducing pressure both from the family and the society as a whole with particular reference to examining the existing causes and effects of infertility in the society. The instrument for data collection used for this research was questionnaire. The sampling techniques used for this study was cross-sectional survey research design. Two hundred (200) respondents were randomly selected. The data collected were analyzed using tables and percentages. From the analysis of the data, it was found that programmers‟ like marriage forum in Abraka urban community could help reduce feeling of inferiority complex among childless couples. Negative attitude of childless couples towards child adoption and the significant relationship between childless couples and leadership role were found. The findings from the study necessitated certain recommendations which include the fact that childless couples should seek for medical treatment jointly instead of allowing one partner to carry the burden alone among others.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover
page i
Title
page ii
Declaration iii
Certification iv
Dedication v
Acknowledgements vi
Abstract ix
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study - - - - - - 1
1.2 Statement of Research problem - - - - - 5
1.3 Objectives of the study - - - - - - 7
1.4 Research Questions - - - - - - 7
1.5 Research Hypotheses - - - - - - 7
1.6 Significance of Study - - - - - - 8
1.7 Scope of the Study - - - - - - 8
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms - - - - 8
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Causes
Of Childlessness
2.3 Impacts
Of Childlessness On Individuals
2.4 Social
And Cultural Impacts Of Childlessness On Married Couples
2.5 Childlessness:
Perceptions, Acceptability And The Gender Dimension
2.6 Theoretical
Framework
2.7 The
Values Of Children
2.8 Experiences
Of Childless Women
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS
3.1 Research Design - - - - - - - 35
3.2 Population of the Study - - - - - - 35
3.3 Sample and Sampling Technique - - - - 36
3.4 Instrument for Data Collection - - - - 36
3.5 Validation and Reliability of the
Instrument - - - 37
3.7 Procedure of Data Collection - - - - - 38
3.8 Method of Data Analysis - - - - - - 38
CHAPTER FOUR:
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.1
Introduction
4.2 Data
Analysis
4.3 Test
Of Hypotheses
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction
5.2
Summary - - - - - - - - 46
5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - 48
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - 49
References - - - - - - -
- 52
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the study
In
Abraka urban community, as in most other parts of the country, procreation is
one of the major functions of the family. Every man take a wife apparently to
have children with them, where this main purpose for marriage is not forth
coming into fulfillment, it is then result to tension in most cases which lead
to misunderstanding and disputes in the family. In traditional Urhobo society,
many wives try to ensure the procreation of children to its fullest limit. For
most of history, childlessness has been regarded as great personal tragedy
involving much emotional pain and grief, especially when it is resulted from
failure to conceive or from the death of a child (Mail, Charlene, 1986). Before
conception was well understood, childlessness was usually blamed on the woman
and this in itself added to the high level negative emotional and social
effects of childlessness. Some wealthy families also adopted children as a
means of providing heirs in case of childlessness or where no son had been
born, the monetary incentives offered by westerners desire for children is so
strong that a commercial market in the child laundering business exists
(McCurry, 2015). In marriage, childlessness is one
aspect of the diversity inherent in contemporary experience of marriage and the
family. For most of history, childlessness has been regarded as great personal
tragedy involving much emotional pain and grief, especially when it is resulted
from failure to conceive or from the death of a child. With this greater
diversity, once common pressures for childbearing have given way to greater
social acceptance of remaining single or married without children. Before
conception was well understood, childlessness was usually blamed on the woman
and this in itself added to the high level negative emotional and social
effects of childlessness. Some wealthy families also adopted children as a
means of providing heirs in case of childlessness or where no son had been
born, the monetary incentives offered by westerners desire for children is so
strong that a commercial market in the child laundering business exists.
Nonetheless, childlessness is a concern, partly because of its implications for
the maintenance of societies and partly because of its unwanted consequences
for individuals. However, societies regard children as the most important asset
in every successful marriage and for this reason; childless couples become an
object of ridicule in their communities. The dynamics of culture and human
relationships have made researchers to observe many influences, manifestations,
happenings and occurrences in marriage stability within the Yoruba community.
However one of the general cultural beliefs in marriage is that procreation is
the basic aim of marriage, for them marriage and procreation are inseparable.
However, modernization has not weakened the deep rooted tradition of having a
child as soon as possible after marriage. According to Owo (2018), having many
children makes one feel contented and important and also usually respected by
others for not being childless. Marriage which fail to produce children often
end in divorce. It is also describe as the dissolution or abrogation of
marriage. Psychologically, Owo (2018) explained that childless couples
especially the women are always depressed about their condition; they always
feel bad because most of the blames are levied against them. The pains suffered
by childless couples attract sympathy.
1.2
STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
Throughout
the world and particularly in African societies, Urhobo land not exempted, the
word “childlessness” listener and a sense of pity is immediately aroused in the
mind. In Urhobo land, children are regarded as great treasure to their parents,
relations and their immediate community. Many people suffer from childlessness
for so many reasons such as drug abuse, hard drugs effect, contraception,
numerous abortions, and genetically inherited sickness and in most cases,
psychological problems.
The
number of childless couples is tremendously on the increase, this is evident to
the fact that attempts to initiate a move which would have been directed
towards adoption is taken with serious resistance in some places mostly by
couples without even a child. Meanwhile, most couples are childless as a result
of the degree of their waywardness while they were youths or younger and
unmarried, such as illicit use of drugs in order to avoid pregnancy (Ugwuanyi, 2020).
In Abraka urban community, childlessness is echoed by the fact that most
couples are not aware of the prevalence of medical treatment; this therefore
makes them not to seek medical assistance for such form of ailment. According
to Nwapa (2004), some couples attribute their problem of childlessness to the supernatural,
the hope in God that gives children to remember them at the appropriate time
while some couples usually fall back to the fact that adoption, they are
comforted for being biological infertile, they no longer want to know the cause
of their infertility and solve it or get rid of it Hales, (2020). According to
Dike (2013), the police have smashed a suspected syndicate whose alleged stock
in trade was defrauding desperate barren women through false miracle babies. He
also narrated the agony of a 61 year old barren woman who travel to port
Harcourt to consult miracle workers God was using to bless the barren and make
them fruitful, they told her to pay #1.5 million, she paid the money and was
given some seed to eat, after eating it, she began to stool. It took about nine
months before the miracle.
1.3
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The major objectives of the study
are:
1.
To ascertain the causes
of childlessness in the family
2.
To ascertain the effect
of childlessness in the family
3.
To ascertain the
relationship between childlessness and socio-cultural impact
1.4
RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
For the successful completion of the
study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the
researcher;
H0: there
are no causes of childlessness in the family
H1:
there are causes of childlessness in the
family
H02:
there are no effects of childlessness in
the family
H2:
there are effects of childlessness in the
family
1.5
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is believed that at the completion of
the study, the findings will be of benefit to the married couple. The study
will also be of great benefit to the researchers who intends to embark on
research on similar topics as it will serve as a guide. Finally, the study will
be of great importance to academia’s, lecturers, teachers, students and the
general public.
1.6
SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The
scope of the study covers childlessness and socio-cultural impact on married
couple. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the
study;
a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher
is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not
enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic
activities and examinations with the study.
c)
Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the
selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the
activities.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
CHILDLESSNES: Childlessness is people - men and women - having no children. Childlessness may have personal,
social or political significance
SOCIO-CULTURAL:
The term "socio-cultural system"
embraces three concepts: society, culture, and system. ... A culture is the
learned behaviors that are shared by the members of a society, together with
the material products of such behaviors.
MARRIED COUPLE: Married couple - two people who are married to each other; "his
second marriage was
happier than the first"; "a married couple without love" man
and wife, marriage.
Family unit, family - primary social group; parents and children; "he
wanted to have a good job before starting a family
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