Knowledge and perception of widowhood rites among adults in Ilorin, Kwara State
Date
2017
Authors
Olatona, F.A.
Aderibigbe, S.A.
Lawal, M.O.
Sekoni, O.O.
Goodman, O.O.
Olubiyi, S.K.
Olaosebikan, MS
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
Widowhood rites vary from one community to another and some of these rites violate a woman's human rights. In some communities, discussion of intimate topics such as widowhood rites is considered as taboos thus allowing for little research in the aspect of widow abuse in Africa. This study determined the knowledge and perception of widow rites among adults in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect information from 450 respondents who were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Majority of the respondents (79%) had fair knowledge regarding widowhood rites. Knowledge of widowhood rites was not shown to be influenced by age, gender, religion, tribe and marital status of the respondents. However, the level of education and occupation was shown to significantly influence the knowledge of widowhood rites(p<0.05).
A total of 170 (39.7%) respondents perceived widowhood rites as gender-based violence, while 67.6% opined that widowhood rites violate a woman's basic human right. There is a need to create more awareness and sensitization on widowhood rites through the mass media to improve its knowledge.
Description
Scholarly articles
Keywords
knowledge , Perception , Widowhood rites , Community , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE
Citation
Aderibigbe SA, Lawal MO, Olatona FA, Sekoni OO, Goodman OO, Olubiyi SK, Olaosebikan MS. Knowledge and perception of widowhood rites among adults in Ilorin, Kwara State. The Tropical Journal of Health Sciences. 2017. 24 (3): 1-7