‘We do not father another man’s child’: Child adoption among Christians in Enugu-Ezike community

Abstract

Child adoption is a concept that provides the legal right for a person or persons to assume the parental role for a child who is not their biological offspring. In the Enugu-Ezike community, child adoption faces many challenges, ranging from the individual search for personal identity to family and community socio-cultural behaviour towards inheritance, even among Christians whose dogma teaches that all may be one. Scholars have written extensively on child adoption, especially regarding the challenges that are involved in the process and the negative treatment of the adopted children; however, the present study tries to unveil the attitude of Christians in Enugu-Ezike towards child adoption. A qualitative phenomenological method was employed in conducting this study.
Contribution: The research illuminates the fact that despite the number of years Christianity has stayed in Enugu-Ezike, the people of that community are still resilient with their culture. Their religious affiliation has not affected their perception of child adoption. The findings underscore the need for more support from the community and religious leaders.