DEMOGRAPHIC VARAIBLES AS THE DETERMINANT OF HOME CHORES AMONG MARRIED COUPLES IN SELECTED TOWNS IN EKITI STATE

Abstract

This research focuses on the demographic variables as the determinant of home chores among married couples in selected towns in Ekiti state. The main objective of the study is to primarily investigate if demographic characteristics of couples are strong enough to determine carrying out home chores among the people of Ekiti. This study is exploratory in nature and was carried out purposively in selected urban areas like Ado-Ekiti, Ikere, Aramoko and Igede. A total number of 400 respondents were drawn. However, only 394 (98.5%) of the questionnaires were dully filled and it was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20. The quantitative data was presented in tables, frequency and percentages. The results showed that most of the respondents (29.9%) were between the age of 37-47 years, (50.3%) were female, (45.2%) had B.Sc/HND, (32.0%) were civil servants, (55.8%) earn between N20,000-N60,000 monthly, (44.2%) of the respondents had family size of 4-6 members, (74.1%) of the couples were monogamy while (49.2%) had between 3-4 children. On home chores respondents were familiar with, laundry work which was mostly known (69.5%) while (39.6%) respondents had little familiarity with babysitting. In respect to home chores statistics shows that (71.6%) respondents basically arrange and organize home while (48.2%) rarely babysit. In respect to whether demographic variables of the respondents determine a set of home chores which married couples engage in, there was a thin line between the responses provided by the respondents. About 45.7% of the respondents said yes while 45.2% said no to the above assertion. This research recommends that married couples should help themselves in doing or carrying out any form of home chores irrespective of their religion or cultural differences. This would invariably foster and sustain peace among the couples. The study concluded that socio-demographic variables do not determine the type, set and volume of home chores couples in Ekiti state engage in at any point in time.