Perceived influence of male child preference on the social adjustment of women producing only females in Jalingo Local Government Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of male child preference on the social adjustment of women producing only females in Jalingo Local Government, Taraba State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population that was used for this study was the entire single and married female gender in Jalingo Local Government. The sample for the study which comprised ninety (90) females and ninety (90) female producing women making 180 respondents altogether were randomly selected from educational centres, recreational centres, as well as marketplaces within the Local Government. The instrument that was used for data collection was a self-designed instrument titled “Male Child Syndrome on Female social Adjustment Questionnaire (MCPSAQ)”. Cronbach's Alpha reliability test was used to determine the reliability coefficient. The reliability result of .996 shows that the instrument was reliable for data collection. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The findings showed that male child preference negatively influences the social adjustment of female producing women in Jalingo Local Government. It was therefore recommended among others that government and non-governmental organizations should mount a serious campaign against the practice of male child syndrome using jingles, public enlightenment, and the declaration of an international day for female producing women.