An Evaluation of the Knowledge of Evolving Family structure in Rural and Urban Areas of Benue State, Nigeria

Ejeh Benedict¹ , Aduke Olufunmilayo Bello² , Muhammad Fatima Alamai³

Section:Research Paper, Product Type: Journal-Paper
Vol.11 , Issue.4 , pp.45-54, Apr-2025

Online published on Apr 30, 2025

Copyright © Ejeh Benedict, Aduke Olufunmilayo Bello, Muhammad Fatima Alamai . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
 

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Abstract :
The study investigates the level and differentials in the knowledge of evolving family structures among rural and urban residents in the study area. Using a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 400 respondents through structured questionnaires administered across selected rural and urban communities. The study assessed awareness of six key indicators of family transformation: cohabitation, divorce, separation, single parenthood, delayed marriage, and changes in household size. Descriptive statistics revealed that 78% of respondents were aware of transformations in family structure, suggesting widespread recognition of changing household dynamics influenced by modernization, urbanization, and socio-economic shifts. Comparative analysis showed urban respondents had greater awareness of cohabitation, divorce, and separation, reflecting their exposure to alternative lifestyles and liberal norms. In contrast, rural respondents exhibited higher awareness of single parenthood, delayed marriage, and household size, likely due to the visibility of deviations from traditional norms in tightly knit communities. Inferential analysis using the Mann-Whitney U test revealed statistically significant rural-urban differences for five of the six indicators (p < 0.05), with separation being the only non-significant variable. These findings suggest that awareness of family transformation is context-dependent, with rural areas more sensitive to changes in traditional family expectations and urban areas more attuned to modern family forms. The study recommends culturally tailored policy interventions and awareness campaigns that address the diverse realities of family structures in both rural and urban settings. Understanding these differentials is crucial for effective family policy planning, social development, and community engagement.

Key-Words / Index Term :
Family Structure, Rural-Urban Differences, Awareness, Social Change, Benue State

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