Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice on child Adoption amongst women attending infertility clinics in Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Introduction: Adoption is alternative and permanent legal transfer of all parental rights of a baby from one person or couple to another. Study assessed knowledge, attitude and practice of adoption among women attending infertility clinics in Abia State University Teaching, Aba.

Methods: Semi-structed questionnaire was administered to 381 women attending infertility clinics from May 2018 to January 2019 at ABSUTH Aba.

Results: Knowledge of child adoption 345 (90.6%) and practice 272 (71.4%) were high while attitude 117 (30.7%) was low. Majority of respondents were Igbo 339 (89%) and had good knowledge more than other tribes. The difference was statistically significant. Respondents with greater than 5 years duration of infertility 103 (27%), wives who were presumed as cause of infertility 55 (14.5%) had positive attitude towards adoption more than others. Respondents with tertiary education 146 (38.3) Igbo tribe 269 (70.6%), primary type of infertility 137 (36%) and wives presumed cause of infertility 116 (30.4%) had good practice more than respondents with lower education. The difference is statistically significant. Respondents with primary type of infertility 145 (37.5%), with greater than 5 years of duration of infertility 81 (21.2%) and wives presumed as cause of infertility 28 (7.3%) showed willingness for adoption more than other respondents. The difference is statistically significant. Type of infertility is the only socio-demographic variable that had association with willingness to adopt. This is statistically significant (r = .419: p<.05)

Conclusion: Knowledge of child adoption was high among respondents but willingness to adopt was low.