Effect of single parenthood factors on the academic performance of undergraduate medical students of College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Academic performance is an integral aspect of the educational pursuit of every student at all levels; however, there are so many psychosocial, moral and spiritual factors that may constitute an impediment to the academic performance of a child. This study investigated the influence of single parenthood factors on the academic performance of undergraduate medical students of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique. The study population consisted of undergraduate medical students. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 57 undergraduate students. The instrument of data collection was the questionnaire. The administered questionnaires were retrieved immediately, collated and presented for analysis. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as Pearson Product Moment Correlation, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis technique. All hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The results showed a significant relationship between academic performance of undergraduate medical students and guardian type (r=.067), sex of students (r=.052), guardian occupation (r=.179), guardian educational level (r=.084) and guardian income (r=.063). There was also a negative relationship between academic performance of undergraduate medical students and the ages of students (r=-.185). The study concluded that the absence of one of the parents would definitely have an effect on the income level of the household, which might make it impossible to provide all the necessary resources that would support better academic performance by students from single parenthood background.