Impacts of female single parenthood on self and children

Abstract

Preparation for parenthood is a complex and challenging task as parental skills do not necessarily come easily and naturally. Parent partially behave the way they do because of their own childhood experiences. This paper examines the associated factors of emergence of female single parenthood and its implication to childrearing which is characterized by poor personality of the relationship, poverty, illness, mental/emotional instability, stress, character defects (wife abuse), marital disharmony and infidelity. Its effect on childhood experiences is negative as children from such homes have the following experiences: verbal abuse, child labour, sex abuse, child battery, street children, prostitution, forced marriage. It is therefore, recommended that premarital counselling and health education against family disintegration should be organized for adolescent and young couples. In addition, appropriate health workers e.g. midwives, social workers and medical officers with the support from government must be prepared always to render useful services in rehabilitating needy families in the community.