Assessing the Challenges of Schooling among Adolescents in Skipped Generation Households in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Skipped generation households (SGH) where grandparents are increasingly filling the parenting gaps are on the increase in the country. This study explored grandparental involvement in the family structure and schooling of adolescents in Ile-Ife town, South-West, Nigeria.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study involves 408 secondary school adolescents (10-19 years) using facilitated self-administered questionnaires to gather information about students' socio-demographics, type of family structure, and schools' academic performance.
Results: More than half of adolescents lived with biological parents at the time of survey while almost one-third (32.3%) lived in SGH. Almost all adolescents in SGH reported that their grandparents contribute financially to their care. Grandparental involvement significantly influenced the type of school attended by adolescents in SGH (p=0.025) and academic performance (p=0.038). Majority of adolescents living in SGH are enrolled in public schools and have poor academic grades in the year preceding the survey compared to those living with biological parents.
Conclusion: Grandparental involvement influenced the type of school and was associated with poor academic performance of adolescents living in SGH. The study advocates a social support system for adolescents in skipped generation households while the grandparents who are mostly overburdened can also be supported through community nested cash transfer program.