INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system
that impairs the conception of children. It may be due to problem in the woman,
man or both. xl@xlacpunctive.com (2011). Infertility is a common health problem
with devastating psychosocial consequence on the affected couples especially in
Africa. According to Okonofua (2003), worldwide 5 to 15 percent of couples
suffered from infertility but in African, the prevalence is up to 45 percent.
Restrain, (2005) observes that childless couples
suffered from the conflux of personal, interpersonal, social and religious expectations
thus bringing a sense of failure to them.
In some cultural setting in
Africa, infertile couples are even not allowed to take lead role in
important
family functions and events. In addition these couples are often socially
ostracized by the immediate families. These challenges are not only restricted
to the developing world.
Keister, (2006) stated that every
couple has the desire to have their own offspring but in a situation where they
cannot due to congenital or acquired disorder they will resort to adoption.
In his work the word ‘adoption”
is referred to a means by which childless
couples can secure hairs to carryout
their future responsibility and
to inherit their wealth or future childless couples can secure hairs to
carryout their future responsibility and to inherit their wealth or property.
According to Fraser and Cooper, (2003) Adoption is also defined as a legal
procedure by which a child becomes the lawful child of a person or couple with
whom he or she is placed.
The origin of child adoption
practices dates backs to the origin of man it self because of his lineage
(Pennington, 2004) child adoption can be traced Biblically to the early days
where pharaoh’s daughter an Egyptain adopted Moses a Hebrew as her son, Exodus
2:10a. in years past, child adoption practices where gravely frowned at by the
society. According to Dramel (2008) some families faked pregnancies to hide the
truth of adoption in the early 1980oc due to the societal attitude
towards child adoption.
According to her, child adoption
affords couples who can not achieve pregnancy the opportunity to adopt and own
their own children. Couples who have only his children cab have male children
if they wish through adoption and vice versa.
Deltacara, (2007), said couples
as well as singles parents who wish to have children of their own wish to have
children of their own can adopt.
According to the same source, one
fourth of the children adopted from the public foster care system in the United
States of American are adopted by single parents. They further said that old age
is not a decisive factor for child adoption, that a 50-55 years old person or
couple may be perfect for the adoption of an older child, as the ages of
children varies.
In recent year, there has been a
tremendous change in the attitude of people towards child adoption as childless
couples now eagerly go for it. Previously it was the affair of the woman as men
in the developing countries world rather marry a second wife than going for
adoption. (Bharatiya 2005). She said men of this day initiate child adoption in
the family. In some families, childlessness or the domination of a particular
sex of babies have being a major contributing factor of unhappiness quarrels,
separation and divorce couples are therefore left to suffer from the agony of
child bearing failure and this is manifested in form of emotional disturbances,
depressive illness and marital disharmony (Agbanwa, 1999).
Although, there are many
management option for infertile couples, the outcome of the treatment depends
on the actiological factors, available diagnostic tools, skills of the
attending physician and above all the financial status of the status of the
couples (Okonofua, 2003 and Okunlola, 2005). Steck, (1999) sees adoption as an
alternative strategy in the management of infertile aimed at bringing succor to
the affected couples. This management option had gained wider acceptance in
developed countries even before the area of reproductive technologies.
To the affect, this study
therefore is directed toward determining the attitude of couples toward child
adoption practices.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Every married couple looks forward
to producing offspring to be hairs and for continuity of family’s name and
legacy.
Infertility being a great
challenge of this dream has devastating psychosocial consequences on the
affected couples especially in Abakaliki Urban. The increasing number of
couples who suffer from conflux of person, interpersonal, social and religious
expectation, thus a sense of failure in our communities has been a case for serious
concern. This is so especially as great values are attached to children in this
society.
Though there are many management
options for infertile couples the out come of the treatment depends on the
etiological factors, available, diagnostic tools, skill of the attending
physician and above all, the financial status of the couple.
The couples may therefore be left
to suffer from the agony of child bearing failure manifesting in forms of
emotional disturbance, depressive illness and marital disharmony.
Adoption is then an alternative
strategy in his management of infertility aimed at bringing succor to the
affected couples.
This option has gained ground in
developed countries.
Childlessness may have reduces
the quantity of the life, health self esteem an actualization of the couples
affected. Based on the foregoing, the researcher decides to investigate into
the attitude for couple toward child adoption practice using Abakaliki urban as
a case study.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The broad objective of the study
is to investigate into attitudes of couples towards child adoption practice
using Abakaliki Urban as a case study.
Specifically the study aim to:
1.
Ascertain
the attitude of couples towards child adoption practice.
2.
To
determine the influence of gender on the attitude toward child adoption
practice.
3.
Asses the factors that influence the choice of
adoption as a strategy for management of infertility.
4.
Asses
the factors that hindering the process of adoption.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The research is significant
especially will the knowledge that most childless couples have poor attitude
that hinders the practice of child adoption as a management option of
infertility.
Specifically the
following groups will benefit from the study as explained.
1.
Doctor,
Nurses and other health workers who counsel and manage infertile couples will
be equipped with the result on the attitude of the couple. This will hence,
help them to appreciate same in the counseling and management of such couples.
2.
The couples will also benefit as the result
will help the couples understand the practice and process of adoption hence
adopt in a more positive attitude.
3.
The
government and social works department with the findings of this research
understand the factors that hinder the couples from coming forward for adoption
with a tendency to addressing the issue raised.
4.
The
society in general will with the findings of this research understand the
plight and attitude of the adoption couples and hence and adopt a more
sympathetic attitude towards them.
5.
The
researchers will also benefit as the research will help the researcher to
broaden her knowledge on adoption practices and also contribute to existing
body of knowledge.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION
The following
research questions will guide the study towards its objective.
1.
What
is the attitude of couples towards child adoption practice?
2.
How
does gender influence the attitudes of couples toward child adoption?
3.
What
are the factors that influence the choice of adoption as management option for
infertility?
4.
What
are the factors that hinder the process of adoption?
1.6
SCOPE/LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study is limited to
attitude of couples towards child adoption practices in Abakaliki Urban. It is
intended to cover aspects as indicated in the objectives of the study. The
aspects include, determining the influence of gender on attitude towards child
adoption, factors that influence or hinder the couples of adoption.
1.7 OPERATIONAL
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Infertility: The inability of a woman to conceive
or of a man to bring abuts conception.
Attitude: The feeling one has about something.
Child: An individual male or female who is
not an adult.
Couples: A married woman and man.
Foster Parents:
parent who adopted a child into their family.
Practice: The usual right or expected way of
doing something.
Adoption: Taking someone else’s child into your
family and become its parents.
Childlessness:
Not having children in a family.
Divorce: The legal or illegal way of ending up
a marriage.
Illegal: Not allowed by law.