HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF DIVORCE AMONG CHILDREN AND MOTHERS IN JABA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out in order to determine Health Implications of Divorce among Children and Mothers in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State in Nigeria. A total of three hundred and forty three (343) questionnaires were distributed to respondents in Jaba Villages within the local government jurisdiction of Kaduna State. The sample size of 300 was arrived at after using the spearman’s rank of correlation for sample size determination. The statistical tool used in the study is known as Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation Coefficient to test the level of significance of hypotheses, and if there exist a relationship between the variables under investigation. The study shows that majority of respondents were of the opinion that mothers and children’s wealth have health effects due to divorce, while others argued against this opinion. It also shows that majority of the respondents acknowledges that divorces has an implications of women and children and others disagreed of this opinion. The study shows that majority of the respondents were of the opinion that problem of finance and sexual problem results to societal menace of divorce, while others disagreed of these opinions. Other effect that may occur due to divorce includes societal problem, problem of infertility on the bearing of child, negative effect of child education, in-laws-intrusions, alcoholism, assaults, slapping, bitting amongst others. The study concludes that a marriage devoid of problems is said to be happy marriage, unlike those marriages with problems. The survival of any marriage life goes with deep level of understanding. The study recommends that Government should set up agencies where marital-related issues can be resolved, so that if there exist breakdown of marriage agreement it can be done on a peaceful ground.

Background of the study.
Marriage is as old as man himself. It is a socially recognized and approved union between individuals, who commit to one another with the expectation of a stable and lasting intimate relationship (Ahron Constance, 2004). It begins with a ceremony known as a wedding, which formally unites the marriage partners. A marital relationship usually involves some kind of contract, either written or specified by tradition, which defines the partners’ rights and obligations to each other, to any children they may have, and to their relatives. In most contemporary industrialized societies, marriage is certified by the government. In addition to being a personal relationship between two people, marriage is one of society’s most important and basic institutions. Marriage and family serve as tools for ensuring social reproduction. Social reproduction includes providing food, clothing, and shelter for family members; raising and socializing children; and caring for the sick and elderly. In families and societies in which wealth, property, or a hereditary title is to be passed on from one generation to the next, inheritance and the production of legitimate heirs is a prime concern in marriage. However, in contemporary industrialized societies, marriage functions less as a social institution and more as a source of intimacy for the individuals involved. When the primary purpose of this sacred union is defeated and no longer seen as an ideal agreement by the partners involved, an annulment of the marriage vows is embarked on which is divorce and this exonerates both partners of their marital rights and vows. Divorcé which is the legal dissolution of a marriage contracted between a man and a woman. It is legal in the sense that its dissolution is affected by a reputed court of law. It is the court of law that determines the end of marriage by the term “divorce”. Divorce is quite different from separation between a husband and wife that are not legally married. It then means that, Divorce is distinguished from annulment, which declares a marriage void from the time of its celebration.

Barlet (2004) posited that Divorce is so widespread in our society that an intelligent study of divorce is necessary if one is to have the attitude and understanding that will help him/her build a good marriage and avoid eventuality of divorce. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Health is a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Based on this definition, it is virtually impossible to attain complete state of health in divorce. This correlates divorce and its health implication generally on men, women, children and also its adverse effects on the society at large. Studies have shown that divorce has its massive effects more on women and children since it is believed that women are the weaker sex although this research is not based on that ideology but at the same time on the health implications on women and children.
According to a New York Times article, “More Americans Rejecting Marriage in 50s and Beyond”. In the past 20 years, the divorce rate has increased over 50% amongst the baby boomers. More and more adults are staying single and according to an analysis of census data conducted at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, they say the divorce numbers will continue to rise. Baby boomers that remain unmarried are five times more likely to live in poverty compared to those who are married. According to the statistics, it will also be three times as hard to receive food stamps, public assistance or disability payment
According to Lawson (2002) Sociologists believe that the rise in the number of older Nigerians who are not married is a result of factors such as longevity and economics. Women, especially, are becoming more and more financially independent which allows them to feel more secure with being alone. In previous generations, being divorced or single was seen differently than it is now. This has resulted in less pressure for baby boomers to marry or stay married. Therefore the study seeks to explore health implications of divorce among children and mothers in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State in Nigeria.