“A Child is as important as Life”: Reflections on the Value of Children from Infertile Couples

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Most African societies have no tradition of idealized celibacy or voluntary childlessness. Although the norms on parenthood are changing, adults are customarily expected to marry and bear children.
 AIM: This study examined the perceived value of children among infertile couples in Kwara South, Nigeria.
 METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven infertile couples recruited through snowball sampling technique. Data were organized using ATLAS.ti 8 and analyzed by thematic analysis.
 RESULTS: The study revealed that perceptions of the value of children are embedded in sociocultural norms and are strongly linked to religion, patriarchy, and the need for family/marriage sustainability. Childbearing was perceived as the fulfillment of divine injunction; as such, children were regarded as divine. While women believed children are sources of fulfillment and balanced life, most men saw them as life itself. Boys are collectively thought to ensure lineage security and confer honor and prestige on men. A child is believed to give women a permanent seat in marriage.
 CONCLUSIONS: These insights on the values of children within the Nigerian cultural context can be inculcated in programs and services targeted at alleviating the effect of infertility on childless couples. Innovative cultural programs that will increase the worth of the girl child are also encouraged.

Understanding gender issues in Nigeria: the imperative for sustainable development

“…As Arowolo [ 21 ] noted, before colonialism, traditional African people carried out different roles in maintaining the smooth running of their society. Therefore, this paper's argument is that gender inequality and other forms of inequality are a product of colonialism [ 21 , 23 ].…”

“…The essential aim of marriage is for procreation for lineage continuity [ 23 ]. Whether society is matrilineal or patrilineal, the woman's primary purpose in this respect is reproduction.…”

“…However, women increasingly involved in new roles and relations outside the home make it seem like most women are more empowered and equipped to the detriment of their traditional home-making, caregiving and nurturing roles in the traditional family system, which is the basis for their identity as wives and mothers [ 13 , 23 ]. However, this does not imply that women are strictly meant to stay at home and not get involved in the industry.…”

Coronavirus pandemic and spirituality in southwest Nigeria: A sociological analysis

“…This, as opined by Exline et al. (2014) ; ( Iwelumor et al., 2020 ), has resulted in many spiritual struggles of fear, pressures, anxieties, and disagreements over religious matters of which has been predicted will be on the increase by researchers if people are not opportune to worship. Researchers like Pomerleau et al.…”

Gender differences in lifestyles and perception of megamall patrons in Ibadan, Nigeria

“…These convictions, qualities, and frame of mind display demonstrate the general public's pleasant and satisfying standards and the individual's genuine beliefs. They are learned from various intersecting sources such as parental influences, a child's socialization in school, and what is depicted in the media is of paramount importance to gender awareness growth, the role to be played, and world view (Iwelumor et al, 2020). To fully understand the assignment of gender, the physiological and biological attributes assigned by nature must be taken into account, followed by socially constructed behaviour (Olonade et al, in press).…”