• Version
• Download 0
• File Size 305.21 KB
• File Count 1
• Create Date July 14, 2025
• Last Updated July 14, 2025

HOUSEHOLDHEADS PERCEPTION OF THE EFFECTS OF FAMILY TRANSFORMATION IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

AUTHORS: 1 EJEH BENEDICT., 2MUHAMMAD FATIMA ALAMAI., 3MAMMAN. M., 4YUSUF, R.O

^1-2 Department of Geography, Federal University Gashua, Yobe  State, Nigeria.

³ Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University,

Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author’s Email: findbenejehnear82@gmail.com+2347058341714

ABSTRACT

 This study examined the perception of the effects of Family transformation among household heads in Benue State, Nigeria. The aim of the study was to find out how household heads perceive the effects of transformation that has and still taking place in the family. Data were obtained from 386 household heads through the use of structured questionnaire. Six (6) out of (23) Local Government Areas were purposively selected across the three senatorial zones while systematic sampling was used to select 35 out of 74 council wards. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed to group the effect of changes in family structure. The PCA result reveal seven components such as inadequacy of basic and social needs with exposure to diseases (27.7%), psychological maladjustment among children (7.2%), behavioural problem and poor academic performance (6.5%), deformity in children and environmental problem (5.9%), inadequacy in children upbringing (5.3%) with eigen value greater than 1. It was therefore concluded that Benue State has experienced and still experiencing changes in family way. On the basis of the findings, the study recommends that the government of Benue State and other social organization should sensitize people on the negative effect of family change, government should pass a legislation that will ensure that pre-marital counseling is mandatory for couple entering into marital union for the first time to curb especially the high rate of divorce as one of the main causes of single parenthood and marital separation.

Keywords:  Family transformation, Household head, Perception, Effects