Contexts and Methodology

In the last few decades, skipped generation families are becoming more prominent in Nigerian Societies partly due to the consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that caused the demise of the biological parents of some children leaving the care to the grandparents. The economic challenges leading to the migration of young families locally or internationally in search of greener pastures has also significantly contributed to the emergence of skipped generation families. One of the prominent consequences and challenges associated with raising children in this type of family setting in Nigeria is the perceived high rate of delinquent behaviour among the grandchildren. The problem was first noticed in a related study of discipline challenges in secondary schools in selected towns in Osun state. This observation led to a national study on skipped generation households (SGHs) in Nigeria. The study was funded by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and data were collected in three states representing the three major ethnic groups and where some metropolitan cities that accommodate many other ethnic groups in Nigeria are strategically located. A total of 2144 grandparents and one indexed child in the family in both urban and rural communities were selected making a total of 4288 respondents interviewed using closed-ended instruments. In addition, qualitative interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were conducted with different categories of grandparents, grandchildren, and other stakeholders including government agencies and NGOs providing support to this family type in Nigeria. To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind that generates a nationally representative data on skipped generation households (SGHs) in Nigeria. This chapter provides the context and background of the funded research on the General Well-being of Skipped Generation Households in Nigeria. The findings from this study inspired the book project and the subsequent chapters in the book. While this chapter reports the methodology employed in conducting the national study, subsequent chapters are based on literature and findings of this research.