In Northern Nigeria, a rapidly growing population and lack of access to health care have created a crisis for families, leaving many children malnourished and without access to education. The high birth rate in the North can have a number of negative effects on children’s lives. First, many children are born into families that are struggling to meet their basic needs.
This means that these children cannot get proper nutrition or access to healthcare, which can lead to stunted growth and other health problems. Second, the lack of resources can also mean that children are not able to go to school, or they drop out early in order to work or help support their families. This can lead to a cycle of poverty and prevent children from reaching their full potential.
One of the primary causes of high birth rate in Northern Nigeria is polygamy, or the practice of having more than one wife. This practice tends to result in larger family sizes, as resources are shared between multiple wives and children. Additionally, polygamous families may not have the same access to healthcare and other services as monogamous families, which can contribute to higher birth rates. In many cases, children from families with high birth rate in Northern Nigeria do lack adequate parental care.
This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that many mothers in these families are overworked and exhausted from trying to care for so many children. However, the families may not have the financial resources to provide for all their children’s needs. As a result, some children end up having to work in order to help support the family, instead of going to school and getting an education.
Children from families with a high birth rate face a number of risks like; malnutrition, as there may not be enough food available to meet the needs of so many children. This can lead to stunted growth, physical weakness, and a number of other health problems. Moreover, these children may not receive the necessary vaccinations or preventive care, which can increase their risk of contracting infectious diseases. Lack of parental care due to high rate of birth leads children to engage in risky or immoral behaviour in an effort to obtain food and other necessities.
Children who do not have their basic needs met may resort to stealing, begging, or other illegal activities in order to survive. In some cases, they may even join gangs or engage in other dangerous activities. This type of behaviour can have long-term consequences, not only for the children themselves but for society as a whole, particularly negative consequences for girls and young women, including a higher risk of engaging in prostitution.
This is because girls may feel they have no other way to meet their basic needs, and they may be more vulnerable to exploitation by those who would take advantage of their desperation. Young women who engage in prostitution may also be exposed to violence and abuse, and they may face a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections.
There is a lack of access to modern contraception and family planning services, which can lead to more unplanned pregnancies. The lack of access to modern contraception and family planning services is a key factor contributing to high birth rates in Northern Nigeria. Without access to these services, women may not have the ability to choose when and how many children they have, leading to unintended pregnancies and larger families than they can afford to support. Furthermore, limited access to modern contraception can lead to unsafe abortions and health complications for women.
One potential solution is to increase access to family planning and contraceptive services, especially in rural areas where women may have limited options. This could be achieved through increased funding for healthcare, education campaigns, and community outreach programmes. Second, it’s also important to promote education and gender equality. This can help to reduce the prevalence of child marriage and early pregnancy, and empower women to make their own choices about whether and when to have children.
At the same time, it’s also important to provide social and economic support for families, so that they are not forced to have more children than they can afford to support. Additionally, is to increase access to quality childcare services, so that children are properly cared for while their parents are working or otherwise unavailable. This can be achieved through the establishment of daycare centers, after-school programmes, and other community-based services. Lastly, increasing the availability of counseling and support services for families can help to address the underlying causes of the problem and prevent future cases of neglect.
Fadeela Mustapha Lawan,
Department of Mass Communication, Borno State University, Maiduguri
