Reproductive Ethics, Family Dynamics, and Child Welfare in Nigerian Society: An Evaluation of Emerging Concerns

Abstract

This paper explored the complex ethical landscape surrounding reproductive health and decision-making in Nigeria, particularly within the intersection of cultural norms, legal structures, gender dynamics, and evolving biomedical technologies. While reproductive ethics has gained increasing scholarly attention globally, less focus has been placed on
how traditional African practices—such as lineage preservation, surrogacy within kinship, and communal expectations—shape ethical dilemmas in reproductive contexts. The central problem addressed in this paper was the tension between culturally sanctioned reproductive practices and modern ethical principles that emphasize autonomy, consent, justice, and gender equity. The paper argued that many traditional reproductive customs in Nigeria—though culturally meaningful—often undermine the reproductive rights and agency of women and children, raising significant ethical concerns in light of contemporary human rights standards. Adopting a qualitative analytical method, the paper reviewed ethnographic cases, legal statutes, religious influences, and bioethical literature to evaluate the moral implications of practices such as levirate marriage, amụru nna (births in a woman’s father's lineage), and fertility-related stigmatization. It defended the position that ethical models in reproductive health must be locally contextualized yet critically interrogated to avoid reinforcing patriarchal norms and systemic injustice. The paper recommended a culturally sensitive but rights-based approach to reproductive ethics—one that engages traditional leaders, legal institutions, and public health systems in fostering ethical reform. Such an approach should promote informed consent, gender equity, and the psychological well-being of all parties involved in reproductive arrangements.