Fathers’ Participation in Household Chores During Pregnancy of Their Wives in Nsukka Metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The study determines fathers’ participation in household chores during pregnancy of their wives in Nsukka metropolis, Enugu state, Nigeria. The study was guided by four specific objectives and two null hypotheses. The study adopted cross - sectional research design. Population for the study was indefinite and it included all the fathers in the study area which is Nsukka Metropolis. Using the Cochran’s Sample Size Formula (n=Z2P(1-P)?d2), a sample size of 384 was drawn from the population using purposive sampling technique. The instrument for the data collection was a self-developed structured questionnaire titled Fathers’ Participation in their Wives’ Pregnancy (FPWP). The instrument was validated by three experts, all from the Department of Home Economics and Hospitality Management Education, Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Using Cronbach’s Alpha, the reliability of the instrument for clusters A to E was determined to be 0.86, indicating a high reliability coefficient. The data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages to present the demographic characteristics of respondents and to show the distribution of responses across the research items. In addition, mean and standard deviation were employed to summarize respondents’ views on the challenges hindering fathers’ participation in household chores during pregnancy, as well as the extent of their involvement. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) was used to examine the relationship between fathers’ employment status and their level of participation in household chores. It was found out that the fathers in Nsukka metropolis participated minimally in most domestic chores (especially cooking, cleaning, and childcare), showed moderate involvement in home management, and high involvement in maternal care support. Cultural norms, work demands , and economic pressures significantly limited participation, but strategies such as supportive workplace policies and cultural reorientation could enhance paternal involvement. Conclusion was made and it was recommended among others that Home Economists should design and implement educational programs that encourage equitable sharing of household responsibilities between men and women.
Institution: University of Nigeria
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7202190606