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International Journal of
Population Studies Single mother spatial distribution in Nigeria

homosexual couples, have proliferated in recent years. who might share household duties, single mothers have
According to Karney et al. (2005), single-parent families less time to spend with their children because the majority
are becoming more common and acknowledged as a type cannot balance their family and career responsibilities;
of family in many societies. this can result in children experiencing emotional distress,
social problems, and school dropout (Charon & Vigilant,
A single-parent household is a type of family setting
in which the father or mother is solely responsible for the 2002).
children, especially for their physical, social, and economic Due to financial constraints, unemployment, and social
well-being. Recently, there has been a shift in family marginalization, single mothers occupy an unfavorable
patterns and an increase in single-parent households social position and experience ongoing stress, which has
worldwide, most of which are headed by women a detrimental impact on their health. Mackenzie (2023)
(Adewoyin et al., 2020. The demographics of single parents affirmed that single mothers are stigmatized and subjected
vary on a case-by-case basis. Some single parents may have to discrimination in the media, political discourse, and the
been in relationships that eventually terminated in divorce, society at large. Notably, being a single mother can also be
separation, or the demise of a partner. Others may have a choice for those who seek freedom and independence.
been single parents from the beginning and may have Single mothers might use negative coping mechanisms,
had children through assisted reproduction, adoption, such as drug and alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking, and
brief or casual sexual encounters, or other arrangements overuse of antidepressant medication, to mitigate stress.
that entrust children into their care (Bernardi et al., 2018; These coping mechanisms are detrimental to their mental
Hinton‐Smith, 2016). Globally, single parenthood, which and physical well-being.
is an emerging trend, has been linked to negative results The most populous nation in Africa, Nigeria is aptly
for the health of mothers and children (Adewoyin et al., dubbed the “Giant of Africa.” However, a large population
2020). also poses certain challenges. Nigeria has one of the highest
Single mothers include those who are widowed, rates of single motherhood worldwide; moreover, the
divorced, or separated or those who opted to adopt country has different ethnic groups and variations in single
children while single. However, the concept of single motherhood prevalence patterns and sociodemographic
motherhood has expanded to encompass women who correlates (Adewoyin et al., 2020). Despite deeply
support and care for their families singlehandedly due to rooted cultural bias toward recognizing single parents,
issues related to their husbands’ health, alcoholism, and approximately 11% of Nigerian homes are headed by
other factors (Evans, 2011). Compared with single fathers, single parents; this value in the United States is about 16%
single mothers now make up three-quarters of all single- (Owolabi, 2023). The distribution of single mothers shows
parent households, reflecting a sharp rise in the incidence huge geographic variations in Nigeria, ranging from about
of single parenting (Karunanayake et al., 2021). Lancker 2.9% in the North-West geopolitical zone to 20.3% in the
et al. (2015) opined that single mothers are considered to South-South (Adewoyin et al., 2020). In Nigeria, cultural
be among the most vulnerable social groups. Risk factors stereotypes and religious beliefs serve as social barriers for
such as financial instability, social isolation, lack of access single mothers (Essien & Bassey, 2012). Single mothers
to high-quality healthcare and childcare, or unfavorable are frequently viewed as promiscuous in both social and
housing and health circumstances are linked to the religious contexts. Melah et al. (2003) opined that the
increasing prevalence of single motherhood (Duriancik society, especially in a patriarchal system such as that in
& Courtney, 2019; Nieuwenhuis, 2020). The financial Nigeria, sees a single mother as an arrogant, quarrelsome,
instability of single mothers is associated with low-income or promiscuous person who was ejected by her spouse.
employment, a high percentage of greater reliance of self- This view is not limited to Nigeria. Single mothers are
employment, low educational attainment, insufficient frequently denigrated in the society as morally bankrupt
skills, and advanced age (Zakaria, 2019). In addition, Fuji individuals who are unworthy of respect. Numerous
et al. (2024) corroborated that financial difficulties are more studies have highlighted the demographic, sociocultural,
pronounced in single-mother families, which impacts the and economic characteristics of individuals that influence
child’s education, health, and self-esteem negatively in the the likelihood of single motherhood in different societies
short and long terms. According to London (2000), single (Adewoyin et al., 2020; Shamir & Shamir Balderman, 2024).
parents find it difficult to manage the stress and frustration A few studies have considered the determinants of single
arising from having to fulfill numerous obligations while motherhood in Nigeria and identified some of the factors
ensuring that their children are not negatively impacted listed above (Adewoyin et al., 2020). Nonetheless, analysis
by this stress. Due to the absence of a supportive partner that explores spatial variations can shed light on geographic

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 44 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.4313