Abstract
The study investigated issues relating to divorce among spouses in Onitsha
North Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State. Specifically, the
study identified causes of divorce in the area; determined perceived effects
of divorce on children’s development; and ways of curbing divorce. Three
research questions were formulated to guide the study. Descriptive survey
research design was used. Population was made up of male and female
secondary school teachers in Onitsha North LGA. One hundred and forty
(140) married male and female teachers were randomly sampled from the
secondary schools in the area.. Questionnaire was used for data collection.
Data were analyzed using mean. Findings of the study include: 18 causes of
divorce in the area; including bareness/childlessness (X=3.56), husband’s
physical abuse on the wife (X=3.90); 19 perceived effects of divorce on
development of children aged 11-15 years, including emotional and difficult
to handle (X=3.23), usually unhappy, sad and depressed (X=3.32), among
others. Other findings are 12 possible ways of curbing divorce in the area,
including divorce should not be legalized so that couples will be discourage
from ending their marriage (X=3.64), couples should learn to resolve their
differences by themselves (X=3.63), and so on. Six recommendations were
made, including, among others, that couples should get premarital training
from churches and/or other religious organizations before proceeding with
the marriage; there should be at least a one to two years period of courtship
before marriage.