Child Rearing Practices in Eastern Nigeria: Implications for Social Work in the United States

This qualitative study describes the childrearing practices among the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria, and offers implications for social work and educational services for African immigrants raising families in the United States. First objective for the study was to ascertain how rural Igbos of Eastern Nigeria raise their children from birth to age eight years of age. Second objective was to determine parent\u27s concept of reward and punishment, how gender role is communicated, and what constitutes parental expectations from successful parenting. Method: Focus group discussions with 400 men and women in 20 villages from five rural Local Government Areas (counties) of Eastern Nigeria between July 1994-August 1995. Results: Four major themes emerged from interview analysis as follows: Nurturance practices; child rearing concerns; control practices; and desirable qualities in a child. Proper feeding was used to convey affection and love, but mothers do not praise their children in public. Control practices were scolding, calling of names in anger, and facial expressions. Spanking/ caning is used when the child is older. Parents believe that spanking causes no harm; rather, it prevents the child from losing focus in life. Parenting is viewed as a responsibility of the extended family group, and not for the immediate biological parents. Children are taught to be obedient, respectful and to abide by the mode of the culture. Conclusion: Parenting style of new African immigrants may create family tension and conflict in a Western society where group parenting is not practiced, and where children are raised to be assertive and independent, and where caning and spanking might be defined as child abuse

HIV/AIDS Related Stigma in Sub-Saharan Africa: Context and Consequences

While HIV infection has been a worldwide epidemic, minority and poor rural groups the world over have been disproportionately affected by the disease. People of color have been most affected, particularly in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa and the United States. HIV/AIDS is a highly stigmatized disease, and the stigma attached to the disease has fed into, and in many ways strengthened, pre-existing stigma and prejudice against certain groups in the society. This paper gives an analysis of factors that create and sustain such stigma in rural communities, with particular reference to Nigeria, which is Africa\u27s most populous country. The paper offers a participatory ecological model for community intervention. The human immunodeficiency viral (HIV) disease is a severe and progressive chronic illness that is a major source of excessive morbidity and mortality worldwide. Symptomatic HIV disease has a significant impact on the communities and lives of both infected individuals and their families. While HIV disease affects all nations, ethnic groups, communities and people of color have been most affected, particularly in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa and the United States (CDC, 2002; Leonard, 2001; HIV/AIDS in Africa, 2002; Pan African New Agency, 2001; UNAIDS, 2001; UNAIDS/WHO, 1999; World Bank, 2002). Worldwide, the mental health consequences of the epidemic are substantial (WHO, 2001). Sowell et al. (1996) describe the spread of the disease to rural communities as a part of the second wave of the epidemic. AIDS stigma refers to prejudice, discounting, discrediting and discrimination directed at people perceived to have AIDS or HIV, as well as the individuals, groups and communities with which they are associated. The effect of intense stigma and discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS plays a major role in psychological stress, including disorders such as depression and anxiety, particularly in the rural areas. Stigma also hampers preventive efforts as people afflicted with the disease are reluctant to reveal their serostatus. Relationships are very important to people in the rural areas, therefore, community intervention for HIV/AIDS should employ a participatory approach aimed at building support networks for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the rural areas. Such a network will provide group support needed to function under a hostile atmosphere of stigma

Exclusive Breastfeeding Knowledge, Intention to Practice and Predictors among Primiparous Women in Enugu South-East, Nigeria

Breastfeeding is considered as the most complete nutritional source for infants because breast milk contains the essential carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and immunological factors needed for infants to thrive and resist infection in the formative first year of life. Knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among women is essential when promoting optimal breastfeeding practices. This cross-sectional descriptive survey assessed knowledge and intention to practice EBF and its associated factors during pregnancy among primiparous women in selected communities in Enugu State, Nigeria. A total population study that applied inclusion criteria was used to recruit 201 primiparous mothers attending their third trimester antenatal care from selected health facilities in rural and urban communities in Enugu State. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect data on participants’ knowledge and intention to practice EBF. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to summarize categorical and continuous variables while Chi-square and Wald statistic tests predicted demographic data associated with knowledge status and intention to practice EBF of the participants. More than half (58.7%) of primiparous mothers had inadequate knowledge of EBF and only 62.7% had intention to exclusively breastfeed for 4–6 months. The Chi-square test result showed significant difference in the participants’ place of residence (p = 0.024), EBF knowledge sources (p = 0.001), and EBF knowledge. The Wald statistic in Logistic regression model indicated the coefficient of age (p = 0.026), educational attainment (p = 0.046), EBF knowledge (p = 0.016), and sources of information about EBF (p = 0.027) to be significant predictors of good intention to practise EBF. Poor EBF knowledge and intention to practice in this population may be improved by combining facility-based and in-house methods of breastfeeding counseling, education, and support especially to intending and expectant mothers. Further studies are needed to be done using the multiparous women as well as assessing the effects of in-house EBF supportive-educative intervention to improve breastfeeding outcomes