From humanitarianism to family building

Abstract

Purpose Adoption practice is originally designed as a live-saving option for some category of children. In recent times, this purpose has been challenged by several social, biological and cultural exigencies. Hence, a notable morphing of the practice to satisfying adopters’ need has been observed, however, requiring further interrogations. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through sessions of interviews with six adoption officials (social workers), four orphanage managers, three legal practitioners and 13 prospective and successful adopters, across three selected states. Findings The study records contemporary adoption practices as mostly a management strategy for infertility by bringing to fore diverse narratives that reveal adoption as now primarily construed, subconsciously implemented and ultimately serving in many ways as the social security mechanism for adopters than for securing the children who are to be adopted. Social implications This by implication results in poor adoptive parent–child bonding, disservice and maltreatments in diverse ways. Originality/value This study heralds the “rebranded” security benefits of adoption and enlarges the scope and genres of social security implications of child adoption in the contemporary Nigerian society.

Socio-ecological drivers of vulnerabilities of children living within orphan homes and the implications for their nurturance care

“…This threat within the system of adoption has been connected to the observed gap between the high demand for children and the low number of adoptable children within the system, creating an opportunity for shady practices that threaten adoptable children’s security and safety ( 13 ). Specifically, the spirited competition that results from this shortage potentially threatens the philosophy of altruism and humanitarianism that define orphanages by replacing it with infertility management ( 49 ). This shifts adoptable children away from the center of adoption practice in a manner that is capable of jeopardizing children’s safety and security.…”