Non-kinship foster care in Nigeria: Socioeconomic and demographic drivers of mothers’ willingness to foster

Stanley Oloji Isangha; Tosin  Yinka Akintunde; Tam Cherry Hau Lin; Anna  Wai Man Choi

doi:10.1921/swssr.v24i1.2012

Authors

Stanley Oloji Isangha City University of Hong Kong, PhD Candidate/Teaching and Research Assistant https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1177-0724
Tosin Yinka Akintunde Chinese University of Hong Kong, Department of Social Work, PhD Candidate/Research Assistant https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9392-8726
Tam Cherry Hau Lin City University of Hong Kong, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Associate Professor/Associate Head https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6792-9725
Anna Wai Man Choi The University of Hong Kong, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Senior Lecturer https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9341-8515

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/swssr.v24i1.2012

Keywords:

Non-kinship care, Socioeconomic and Demographic, Foster care, Mother, Nigeria, Africa

Abstract

Research in Africa indicates an increasing number of children needing a secure and stable alternative family environment, yet the commonly used kinship care system is insufficient to meet this need requiring the support of non-kinship care. This study examined the socioeconomic and demographic drivers of willingness to foster non-kin children among mothers in Nigeria. Data from 779 mothers of children ages 2-10 were analyzed using Pearson correlation matrix and linear regression analysis to examine the associations among socioeconomic/demographic characteristics and willingness to foster. Attributes of the mothers such as region, neighborhood (rural or urban), education, occupation, and age are some determinants of willingness to foster, which also varies across children with special needs, diversity, and under six. Efforts to improve non-kinship foster care in Nigeria should consider mothers’ socioeconomic and demographic attributes when seeking to attract foster parents. The findings of this study provide implications for research, social work practice, and education in Nigeria and Africa.

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