Controversies in preparing for end-of-life in Nsukka town, Nigeria and suggestions for Nigerian-based social work practice

Death is regarded as a natural phenomenon of life but sometimes perceived to be bitter, especially for the bereaved. End-of-life plans could cushion the bitter experiences for the bereaved, as they can leverage on the plans made by the dead to better their lives. Unfortunately, the practice of making plans for end-of-life seems poor in Nigeria and has led to several controversies. In this study, we examined the perceptions of adults toward end-of-life planning in one of Nigeria's Igbo area, using a cross-sectional survey. Data was collected from 587 adults and also analyzed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative tools. Age, level of education, marital status and sex were shown to have statistically significant relationships with attitude toward end-of-life planning, while cultural beliefs were discovered to also exercise overbearing influence. The study further discovered some cultural practices that deter people from planning for end-of-life and therefore advocates for social protection and reorientation which should principally involve social workers. Suggestions supported introducing end-of-life planning education into the curriculum of secondary and tertiary schools in Nigeria. This would serve as a proactive measure to help reform attitudes of persons toward preparing for end-of-life in the future.