ABSTRACT
The research is an in-depth analysis of childlessness and
socio-cultural impact on married couples in Abraka urban community of Delta
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 Conceptual
Framework - - - - - - 10
2.2 Empirical
Studies - - - - - - - 14
2.3 Theoretical
Framework - - - - - - 30
2.4 Summary
of Literature Review - - - - - 33
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 Presentation
of Data - - - - - - 39
4.2 Discussion
of Findings - - - - - - 44
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary - - - - - - - - 46
5.2 Conclusion
- - - - - - - 48
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - 49
References - - - - - - -
- 52
Questionnaire - - - - - - - 57
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, 2017). 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 incase 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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