PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON THE IMPACT OF CHILDLESSNESS ON MARRIED COUPLE: A STUDY OF AWGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

The problem of childlessness which is majorly caused by sickness, diseases and infertility in Awgu L.G.A gave rise to this study. This study investigated the Public Perception on the Impact of Childlessness on Married Couples in Awgu Local Government Area, of Enugu state. The study was conducted between November 2017 and May 2018. Six research questions and two hypotheses were formulated. The research design used was sample survey descriptive design. The quantitative and qualitative instruments used for data collection are Questionnaire and In-depth Interview guide respectively. The sampling techniques used for this study was multi stage sampling technique. Four hundred (400) questionnaires were shared randomly among the selected respondents. Three hundred and seventy questionnaires was retrieved, the data collected was processed using SPSS software. The statistical tool used to analyze is computerized statistical package for social science and the chi- square formulae was used in testing the research hypotheses. From the analysis of the data, the major findings among others include; sickness and diseases is the major cause of childlessness, there is a negative attitude of childless couples towards child adoption and surrogacy as a solution to their problem. Childless couple also suffer stigmatization, depression, labeling, abuse, disrespectful attitude from spouse and family members In view of these findings, the study recommend among others that: mass enlightenment of the public could help increase the knowledge of the causes of childlessness among couples and also reduce feeling of inferiority complex among childless couples.  Childless couples should seek for medical treatment jointly.