Exploring the Increasing Acceptance of Child Adoption among Families Resident in Lagos State
Adoption in sub-Saharan Africa had been a cultural shock before now. This was because in the past family cohesion was strong and was further strengthened by societal norms that denied adopted children of certain inheritance. Childless couples found parenting expressions in mentoring family relations like their own child. However, with influence of westernization the extended family system began to wane, giving birth to other parenting models like adoption. The study therefore, sought to explore the increasing acceptance of child adoption among families’ resident in Lagos state. The study adopted a qualitative method, deploying in-depth interview guide among ten parents who adopted at least a child through the formal process. The respondents were selected using the snowball sampling technique. Key informant interview guide was deployed to three traditional rulers and an operator of motherless babies’ home to enhance respondents’ validation. The result shows an increasing acceptance of adoption among families’ residence in Lagos state. This could be a good breakthrough for individuals on the long waiting list for conception who could have gone through physical and psychological trauma. In view of this, advocacy groups should enlighten the general public on this valuable alternative method of parenting.