Parenting in step-families in zongo communities in Accra

Abstract

This study explored parenting in step-families in selected Zongo communities in Accra. The qualitative research methodology was employed using the phenomenology approach. An in-depth interview was used to collect data from twenty participants (ten step-parents and ten step-children) selected using the snow-ball technique from purposively selected three Zongo communities. The demographic data were analysed to generate percentages for discussion. Interviews were transcribed by a professional transcriptionist using QSRNVIVO 9. The study revealed that the stepfamily brought challenges and a range of benefits to the participants’ life experiences. The key difficulties pertained to issues regarding poor-quality relationships, ineffective communication, financial challenges, interferences from biological non-resident parents and outsiders, emotional challenges, abuse and neglect, step-siblings rivalry leading to conflicts and stress in step-parenting. Benefits include having an adult person in the life of step-children, step-parents having children, and other new family members in their lives among others. The findings also revealed separating wives and children in polygamous step-families to different houses, dialogue with a biological non-resident parent for collaborative parenting of step-children and step-parents accepting that step-children already know their biological parents and would not regard them were measures to overcome the challenges. Step-parenting comes with a whole lot of challenges which lead to poor relationships among members affecting healthy family living in the stepfamily. Thus, step-children should be submissive to their step-parents. Step-children should be shown affection by step-parents, relatives, and society so that they do not end up on the streets as junkies and criminals