Skipped Generation Households and Support Networks

The rate and patterns of skipped generation households (SGHs) have rapidly increased in Nigeria, leading to altered caregiving and care-receiving (Ijadunola, M. Y., Obiyan, M. O., Odia, B. O., Ogun, O. O., Fajinmi, O. B., Uzezi, P. U., & Abiola, A. J., Journal of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care 29:62−67, 2017). Grandparents and grandchildren play significant roles in Nigerian culture, which highly values family relationships, intergenerational bonds, and social support systems. In contrast to the Western world’s approach of utilising SGH as a foster home for children, with accompanying state social support, the implementation of SGH in Nigeria presents unique challenges. This is because the grandparents, who are the primary caregivers, are typically retired, with limited income, and may require assistance with instrumental activities of daily living for both themselves and their grandchildren, as noted by Aransiola, J. O., Togonu-Bickersteth, F., Aliyu, K., Afolabi, M., & Akinyemi, A., Innovation in Aging 3:S289−S289, 2019. Recent economic crises and events in Nigeria such as parent migration (JAPA syndrome), death, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, insurgency, kidnapping, robbery, teenage pregnancies, and illnesses (mental and physical) call for investigating the social support networks and safety nets in SGHs. While some empirical literature has examined the dynamics and structure of SGHs (Ekoh, P. C., Okoye, U. O., Agbawodikeizu, P. U., George, E. O., & Ejimkaraonye, C., Journal of Population Ageing 1−17, 2021); Popoola, B. I., Togonu-Bickersteth, F., Aransiola, J., Akintomide, A., & Ekundayo, O., Journal of Family Issues 43:2295−2316, 2022), little is known about the social networks of SGHs. Also, there is no specific legal framework to address the vulnerability of this household in Nigeria; however, stakeholders draw on other laws on issues associated with SGH such as the policy on ageing, Child Right Act 2003, and the Universal Basic Education Act, among others This chapter explores the social support networks and safety nets available to SGHs in Nigeria through literature review situated within legal/social frameworks and results from a recent national study conducted in Nigeria.