ABSTRACT
Every society has its norms and values about sex in marital
relationship. Infidelity in marriage is a social issue various society,
religion, and age frown at. Married women are known to be chaste and faithful
to their marital vows. This practice is gradually waning. This study examined
the prevalence and causes of marital infidelity among married women in Enugu
North local government area, Enugu State. The study was conducted between
November 2017 and May 2018 based on a survey of 400 respondents through the use
of multi-stage sampling technique. The information for this study was obtained
from the respondents using questionnaires & in-depth interview. The stated
research questions formed the basis for data analysis. The data were collated
and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software
version 20.
The findings, among other things, show that majority of the
respondents were aware that married women engage in marital infidelity. 77.6%
agreed to sexual infidelity as the most common form of infidelity, and 28.5%
agreed to economic support as the major reasons why women engage in infidelity
through. Religious opposition and customs were found to have a significant
influence on the attitude towards marital infidelity in Enugu North local
government area. The researcher therefore suggests a need to educate the people
on the health challenges and other problems associated with marital infidelity.
This should be accompanied by sanctions for defaulters. Economic empowerment of
women would go a long way in discouraging marital infidelity among married
women in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Marriage is one
of the oldest institutions associated with human society. It is one that has
repeatedly been emphasized in every society and constitutes the yardstick for
the determination of responsibility in the families. Ofoegbu (2002) defined marriage as an arrangement of social
structure which results in the establishment of a relationship of a legal
customary or religious bond between a man and his wife for the propagation of
the family root through procreation and sharing of various types of other
acceptable relationship norms. Marriage of some kind is found virtually in
every society. But throughout the centuries, marriage has taken many different
forms. Understanding of marriage contrasts greatly from culture to culture,
some view the institution as endogamous (men were required to marry within
their social group, family, clan or tribe), exogamous (marrying outside the
geographical region or social group) or polygamous (allowing people (both men
and women) to take more than one partner.
Denga (1990) as cited in Yahaya,
Esere, Ogunsanmi&Onye (2008) states that marriage is a partnership contract
without escape clauses because it connotes a lifelong arrangement where the
couple should permanently survive a multitude of demanding situations such as
illness, financial constraints and so on. At any given time in human history, a
family comes into existence each time a marriage is successfully contracted.
The family is the most important primary group and the smallest social unit in
any particular society. Family setting is universal because the human society
exists or has existed with some form of family organization. Akubue&Okolo,
(2008) referred to family as any group of people who interact and communicate
with each other such as husband, wife and children in organizational settings.
In the Nigeria context, because of the phenomenon of the extended family system,
the family is made up of married people, their off springs and immediate kith
and kin and other dependents (Onwuasonya, 2006).
From creation, every society has its
traditional practices such as loving one’s spouse, having sex only with ones
partner among others, which are pronounced during marriage ceremonies are
expected of couples to boost the image and self-esteem of their partners. Some
partners deviate from these norms and exhibit it outside their marital homes.
This has been a source of marital dispute and instability among couples. The
negative outcome of this often times impacts the children psychologically and
socially (Fernando, 2013). Contemporary society is bedeviled with marital
problems which are not in accordance with the standards, norms and values of
traditional society.
Marital fidelity has been known not
only to keep a family together but also a generation of individuals that
respect the sanctity of marriage. People get married with fidelity in mind but
infidelity has always been documented to affect almost 80% of marriage around
the world. Infidelity in marriage is a social issue various society, religion
and age frown at, and as a result stringent measures are placed to curtail this
act. In some societies, the penalty could be as stiff as death. However,
infidelity strives leaving the people to wonder why it has taken a form of
legacy passed from one generation to the other. (Ejaifo, 2012).
Infidelity in marriage is gradually
becoming a norm. Female infidelity is the new trend because extra marital sex
by men is socially tolerated and in many respects, even socially rewarded. The
prevalence of married men’s participation in extra marital sex in Nigeria is
well documented (Karanja, 1987; Onusuloye, Caldwell& Caldwell, 1997;
Lawoyin& Larsen, 2002; Mitsunaga,Powell, Antonia, Heard, Nathan, Larsen.,
2005). A report out of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University found that
for the first time in modern history, women are cheating at nearly the same
rate as men. Another study, published in the National Opinion Research center’s
2013 General Social Survey, found that while the percentage of men who admitted
to infidelity has held constant over the last two decades, the percentage of
wives who reported having affairs rose almost 40 percent.
Before
the advent of civilization, married women, no matter the conditions they found
themselves never became promiscuous; they remained chaste and faithful to their
vows. Cheating among Nigerian women is the new trend, which is abstract and
very different to what was in existence two decades ago, when women were faithful,
patient and more tolerating (Ejaifo, 2012).
Against this background, this study is
aimed at investigating the causes of marital infidelity among women in Enugu
North Local Government Area of Enugu State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Marital infidelity among women which
was a rare phenomenon has apparently become common place today in the Nigerian
society. According to a new report by Durex, a condom manufacturing company in
2012, Nigerian women are ranked the most unfaithful in the world with 62 percent.
Infidelity impacts strongly on the
functionality and stability of relationship (Drigotas, Safstrom, &Gontlia,
1999; Whisman, Dixon & Johnson, 1997).
John
Kester, a sociologist at the University of Lagos reports that infidelity not
only hurts the relationship but has an adverse impact on family life,
particularly if children are involved. When a mother is having an affair there
is a different reaction in children, this is because the mother is still most
often considered the focus of the family and of course when the child learns of
an affair, he or she is in danger of testing confidence in the inability of
marriage and family.
Research on marital infidelity shows
that it leads to marital strife leading
to divorce, wife battering, prostitution in urban areas, children born of
different fathers and the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (National Aids Control Council
(NACC), 2007). Marital infidelity has been associated with increased risk of mental
health problems, including depression and anxiety (Cano& O’ Leary, 2000).
Marital Infidelity by impacts
negatively on the development in any given area due to its effect on people
involved. Resources that are made for the development of the family are
deviated to cater for extra-marital affairs and the treatment of HIV/AIDS
(Kenya Forum, 2013). Infidelity by women could also enhance the spread of
sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, syphilis, and
many others. Reproductive health of the women are most times usually affected,
thus resulting to loss of lives by the women or mothers, thereby making their
children become orphans, or even school dropouts, thus becoming touts and
juvenile deliquents.
Despite its negative effects on the
health of their family members and the society at large,it is worrisome to
observe that married women still indulge in extramarital affairs. What could be
behind this rise? Could it be that married women are lacking some fundamental
needs in family relationship which they seek to satisfy from external sources?
It is in view of these concerns that
this study is being carried out to find out the prevalence and causes of
marital infidelity by women in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu
State.
1.3 Research Questions
The following
research questions were put forward to guide the study:
I.
What are the patterns of marital
infidelity among married women in Enugu North L.G.A. of Enugu state?
II.
What are the attitudes of people towards
marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A. of Enugu State?
III.
What are the factors responsible for
marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A. of Enugu State?
IV.
What are the challenges resulting from
marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A. of Enugu State?
V.
What strategies can be put in place to
reduce or address the prevalence of marital infidelity among women in Enugu
North L.G.A, of Enugu State?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of the study was to
ascertain the causes of marital infidelity among women in Enugu North L. G.
A.of Enugu State.
The specific objectives of the study
were as follows:
I.
To find out the patterns of marital
infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A, of Enugu State.
II.
To identify the attitude of people
towards marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A of Enugu
State.
III.
To ascertain the factors responsible for
marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A, of Enugu State.
IV.
To investigate the challenges resulting
from infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A of Enugu State.
V.
To proffer plausible
solutions/strategies that will help curtail the prevalence of marital
infidelity among women in Enugu North L. G. A, of Enugu State.
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study has both practical and
theoretical significance.
Practically, the study will help to
resuscitate marriage and improve marriage relationship by helping married
people to keep to their marital vows and have healthy spousal relationships. It
will help to create societal awareness on the damages and harm of infidelity,
if not properly curbed.
Theoretically, the findings will give first-hand
information to religious leaders, marriage counselors, women organizations on
the prevalence and causes of marital infidelity among women, with a view to
give proper counseling to spouses either before or during the marriage
sessions. With the knowledge, the curriculum planners would include issues that
bother on family and procreation into subjects like, Sociology, Civic
Education, Sexuality Education and Social Studies. Findings of the study will
also add to existing knowledge and literature that have addressed the issue of
marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North Local Government Area,
Enugu State and Nigeria at large.
1.6 Definition of terms
Attitude: It refers to the way
we think or view someone or something.
Couple:
This
refers to two people who are married, are living together or having an intimate
relationship, as socially approved.
Divorce:
It is the legal ending of marriage between couples so that husband and wife are
free to remarry again.
Early
marriage: Early marriage is a marriage that occurs before a
person reaches the age of consent (18 years). It is also known as child
marriage.
Gender:
It
refers to culturally and historically specific concepts of femininity and
masculinity. It reflects the power relations between men and women; social
construction of sex roles between men and women.
Infidelity:
It is referred to as cheating or adultery when married. It is a violation of a
couple’s assumed or stated contract regarding emotional and or sexual exclusivity.
Marriage:
In the context of this study, marriage can be seen as the legalizing of a
special relationship between a man and a woman to which the society gives its
approval. It places each partner under legal and social obligations to the
other and to the society.
Pattern:
A particular way in which something is done, or been organized or happens.
Prevalence:
It is a term which means being widespread. It tells us about the number of
particular events in the community.
Socio-Economic
Factors: These are conditions that necessitate and sustain
the status of individuals in family and community in terms of formal education,
occupation, income, health and cultural freedom.
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