Perceptions of secondary school social studies teachers about widowhood practices in ohafia education zone; counseling implications

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International Journal of Development Research

Perceptions of secondary school social studies teachers about widowhood practices in ohafia education zone; counseling implications

Abstract: 

This study was designed to investigate perceptions of secondary school social studies teachers about widowhood practices in Ohafia education zone in Abia State. Four research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was 520 Social Studies teachers from which a sample of 95 male and 135 female social studies teachers from secondary schools in Ohafia education zone were randomly selected. The instrument used to collect data for the study was questionnaire titled: Perceptions of Secondary School Social Studies Teachers on Widowhood Practices Questionnaire (PSSSSTWPQ) which was validated by experts. The data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation and t-test. The major findings of the study are: widows are subjected to staying indoors throughout the period of mourning, shaving of head, pubic areas and eye brows as well as wearing black or white mourning clothes. The problems associated with widowhood include denying windows access to their deceased husband’s landed property, houses and farmlands. Besides, they have the sole responsibility of taking care of their children’s feeding and sponsoring their children’s education. In some cases, windows are sent out of the family for having no male children among others. Based on the following findings of the study, recommendations were made among which are: There is need for immediate action by the Abia state government to protect widows and ensure that their conditions are not made worse by traditions through enactment of law and enlightenment campaign on widowhood practices for women. Girl-child education should be encouraged in order to empower women with entrepreneurial skills and be gainfully employed to cope with the challenges of widowhood when they find themselves in such a situation.

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