Socioeconomic Dynamism and the Growth of Baby Factories in Nigeria
Illegally breeding babies for marketing purposes otherwise known as “infant commodification” is increasing in Nigeria. This menace is a vice that threatens the lives and wellbeing of babies, young girls, and women. This article investigates through an in-depth review of scholarly publication and med...
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doaj-d0b94fdf9e26422b9d966ea7b97d52fa2020-11-25T03:44:05ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402018-05-01810.1177/2158244018779115Socioeconomic Dynamism and the Growth of Baby Factories in NigeriaOluwatobi Joseph Alabi0University of Johannesburg, South AfricaIllegally breeding babies for marketing purposes otherwise known as “infant commodification” is increasing in Nigeria. This menace is a vice that threatens the lives and wellbeing of babies, young girls, and women. This article investigates through an in-depth review of scholarly publication and media coverages the factors that have contributed to the emergence and growth of the illicit industry in Nigeria. It examines the role of cultural beliefs, social attitudes, and norms as well as the harsh economic conditions of the nation as factors playing pivotal roles in the continual growth of baby farming in Nigeria. Some of these sociocultural factors are social stigmatization of pregnancy outside wedlock, stigmatization of adopted children, and the importance attached to fertility and the demonization of childlessness. The article draws on Emile Durkheim anomie theory and Chambers dimensions of poverty to explain how breakdown within the nation’s socioeconomic structure has a concomitant impact in breading social vices. It concludes by recommending that there is a need to jettison stigmatizing sociocultural beliefs within the nation’s social fabrics. Responsive attitude toward family reproductive issues should be encouraged and finally the activities of health care providers, operators of nongovernmental organizations taking custody of babies and young girls be properly monitored. As well, stringent punishment be meted out to apprehended operators of these baby farms to serve as deterrent to others.https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018779115 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Oluwatobi Joseph Alabi |
spellingShingle |
Oluwatobi Joseph Alabi Socioeconomic Dynamism and the Growth of Baby Factories in Nigeria SAGE Open |
author_facet |
Oluwatobi Joseph Alabi |
author_sort |
Oluwatobi Joseph Alabi |
title |
Socioeconomic Dynamism and the Growth of Baby Factories in Nigeria |
title_short |
Socioeconomic Dynamism and the Growth of Baby Factories in Nigeria |
title_full |
Socioeconomic Dynamism and the Growth of Baby Factories in Nigeria |
title_fullStr |
Socioeconomic Dynamism and the Growth of Baby Factories in Nigeria |
title_full_unstemmed |
Socioeconomic Dynamism and the Growth of Baby Factories in Nigeria |
title_sort |
socioeconomic dynamism and the growth of baby factories in nigeria |
publisher |
SAGE Publishing |
series |
SAGE Open |
issn |
2158-2440 |
publishDate |
2018-05-01 |
description |
Illegally breeding babies for marketing purposes otherwise known as “infant commodification” is increasing in Nigeria. This menace is a vice that threatens the lives and wellbeing of babies, young girls, and women. This article investigates through an in-depth review of scholarly publication and media coverages the factors that have contributed to the emergence and growth of the illicit industry in Nigeria. It examines the role of cultural beliefs, social attitudes, and norms as well as the harsh economic conditions of the nation as factors playing pivotal roles in the continual growth of baby farming in Nigeria. Some of these sociocultural factors are social stigmatization of pregnancy outside wedlock, stigmatization of adopted children, and the importance attached to fertility and the demonization of childlessness. The article draws on Emile Durkheim anomie theory and Chambers dimensions of poverty to explain how breakdown within the nation’s socioeconomic structure has a concomitant impact in breading social vices. It concludes by recommending that there is a need to jettison stigmatizing sociocultural beliefs within the nation’s social fabrics. Responsive attitude toward family reproductive issues should be encouraged and finally the activities of health care providers, operators of nongovernmental organizations taking custody of babies and young girls be properly monitored. As well, stringent punishment be meted out to apprehended operators of these baby farms to serve as deterrent to others. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018779115 |
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