<![CDATA[Single parenthood may follow union dissolution, non-marital childbearing, widowhood, safety-related separation, or migration; a cross-sectional perception survey cannot establish a temporal rise or causal determinants. This study described endorsement of 14 possible contributors among 358 registry-recruited single parents in Anambra State, Nigeria, and explored a gender difference in overall endorsement. Participants (97 men and 261 women) were recruited from 15 communities in Anambra East, Awka South, and Nnewi North LGAs and completed a four-point online questionnaire. Items were analyzed separately as a formative checklist using means, SDs, and 95% CIs. An exploratory respondent-level 14-item mean was compared using Welch's t test. The highest endorsements concerned unplanned pregnancies (M = 3.24, 95% CI [3.13, 3.35]), educational-attainment disparities (M = 3.13, 95% CI [3.04, 3.22]), and extramarital affairs (M = 3.00, 95% CI [2.92, 3.08]); incompatibility with a partner's family was lowest (M = 2.44, 95% CI [2.32, 2.56]). Women reported higher overall endorsement than men (difference = 0.375, 95% CI [0.130, 0.620]), Welch's t (175.73) = 3.03, p = .003, Hedges' g = 0.36. The registry frame, online recruitment, unavailable pathway and covariate data, and undocumented contact/nonresponse counts limit generalizability. The findings describe beliefs among participants rather than event prevalence, causal pathways, or a rise in single parenthood. They can inform pathway-specific research and inclusive support planning.]]>
