FACTORS INFLUENCING CHILD FOSTERING AND ADOPTION

ABSTRACT

The study examined factors influencing child fostering and adoption practices in Ezeagu community, Enugu state. The objectives of the study was to examine awareness and acceptability of child fostering and adoption in Ezeagu local government of Enugu state; determine whether social factors influence child fostering and adoption in Ezeagu local government of Enugu state; determine whether cultural factors influence child fostering and adoption in Ezeagu local government of Enugu state and to know the possible challenges faced by married couples during adoption and child fostering in Ezeagu of Enugu state.The cross sectional research design was adopted for this study. One hundred and fifty (150) copies of questionnaire were distributed to 150 respondents in Ezeagu local government of Enugu state. Data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentages and mean, with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 24.0. The empirical result revealed showed that social and cultural factors influence child fostering and adoption and that there is lack of adequate knowledge about process of child adoption.   The study recommends adequate support by social welfare system, non-government organizations and health practitioners involved in adoption and fostering to ease pre-existing fears and socio-cultural misconceptions about it and that Efforts should be made by stakeholders and the government to make laws that will enable infertile couples to have easy access to adoption.