NCJ Number
158158
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 19 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1995) Pages: 1233-1244
Date Published
1995
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examines data pertinent to the welfare of children in Nigeria following marital disruptions.
Abstract
Researchers examined 1,000 randomly selected State Social Welfare case records to obtain information on the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the families, the nature of their problems, the welfare status of the children, and paternal child support. Young maternal age was found to influence the type of case/nature of complaint and the living arrangement of the children. Income level of the mother also affected the type of case/nature of complaint significantly. Approximately 53.6 percent of the cases were for maintenance and 23.1 percent for custody. Most of the children were young; 56.8 percent of the first born were under 5 years old. A total of 63.6 percent of the children lived with their mother only, and 10.2 percent with their father before intervention; thereafter, 16 of those living with their mothers were transferred to their fathers. Only .09 percent of the women remarried, and about half of these women had children from their previous marriages living with them. Some of these children were supported financially by the new husbands. Many of the biological fathers were not responsible for child support payments, and the few that were defaulted regularly. The mothers had to seek redress; the steps taken included social welfare intervention (95.5 percent), police intervention and legal action (4 percent), and family intervention (0.3 percent). The inadequacy, inappropriateness, and obsolete nature of Nigeria's social laws were highlighted by the findings. The author concludes that the social law on family issues regarding support of the children of divorces and related matters need radical reform. The statutory maintenance allowances for these children cannot care for them adequately for a week. The rates were those set during the colonial period. 14 tables and 18 references