ACCEPTABILITY OF CHILD ADOPTION IN NIGERIA: A SOCIAL WORK APPROACH
NGWU CHRISTOPHER NDUBUISI *
Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
ADJIE KENNETH
Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The high rate of infertility in Nigeria has become a major public health problem with far reaching social and psychological consequences for affected individuals in the society. Against this backdrop, this study examines the acceptability of child adoption in Nigeria. The study employed the survey research design and was carried out in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. A sample of 193 respondents was selected through simple random sampling technique and the Data collected were analyzed using simple percentages and frequency distribution tables. Results showed that majority of the respondents were unable to accept child adoption even though 64.8% of them claimed it would save a lot of lives. Social workers should work towards ameliorating those factors that pose as barriers to child adoption in Nigeria and influence policies that would encourage child adoption practices.
Keywords: Child adoption, infertile couples, acceptability, religion, social worker, culture and Nigeria