Journal Press India^®

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Background. Single female adults with dependent child(ren) make up the majority of lone-parent families, with one person who can make money for the family. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors and trends of career women's view of single parenthood in Lagos state, Nigeria. A descriptive case study was conducted among 25 learners aged 30 years and above with at least a child. Data were collected with a questionnaire and analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and mean scores. Results. There were 32.0% (n=8) of respondents between the ages of 40 and 44, which was the age range where single parents were most prevalent. Further supporting their membership in the religious category is the fact that 64% (n=16) of respondents identified as Christians. Public servants (n=17) or 68.0% constituted the largest occupational status group, followed by respondents with one, two, or three children 88.0% (n=22). The results showed that single career women's perceptions of the trend in single parenthood are based on their beliefs that the factors contributing to single parenthood among career women are age of women, choice/personal preference, family background, economic benefits, and family benefits. The results showed that divorce of couples with children, type of residence being in an urban center, work-related activities which can lead to temporary separation, birth to unmarried women or unintended pregnancies, single parent adoption or by choice, wealth status, separated couples ending up divorcing each other, health challenge of husband, age at first birth children ever born, educational status, domestic violence or exposure to violence, desertion ,socioeconomic hurdles, economical barriers, abandonment, the loss of a spouse, parental stress, and lost social are the reasons why working women choose to be single parent. Conclusions. The survey makes it clear that single parenting is common knowledge and on the rise due to a variety of causes and factors (such as divorce, widowed as well as economic independence and choice). The study recommended that the marriage institutions be strengthened encourage stable family patterns through the provision of social welfare services such as preventive strategies on pertinent information about family life and counseling to adolescent girl children on the need for achieving good family life.

Keywords

Women; Single Parenthood; Education; Children

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