Socio-cultural Factors and Male-Child Preference among Couples in Ilorin-West Local Government Area of Kwara-State, Nigeria

Abstract

In most human societies, the socio-cultural practices cause the prevalence of malechild preference among couples. In fact, the issue of male-child preference hasattracted global attention ranging from individuals, scholars, intellectuals as well asother relevant professions among others. It is on this ground that, this study looked atthe socio-cultural factors responsible for male child preference among couples inIlorin. To execute the research agenda, the study used cross-sectional survey, whilemulti-stage random sampling was used to select 384 respondents. Statistical Packagesfor Social Sciences (SPSS/PC) Version 20.0 was used to analyze the quantitative data.The statistical methods employed in the analysis included the percentages, the mode,and cross-tabulation. Chi-square was used to test the two hypotheses formulated.The study discovers that there is a significant relationship between the understandingof religion and preference for male child. The research also discovers that there is asignificant relationship between culture and male child preference. Based on thesefindings, the study recommends that the cultural practices that oppress women or seewomen as subordinate such as the small inheritance rights given to women and thetradition that forbids women from bearing their fathers’ name after marrying shouldbe abolished.