₦airaland Forum

Mental health professionals have warned that discovering one is not the biological father of a child is not a valid reason to emotionally or physically abandon that child, stressing that such actions could have devastating and long-lasting effects on the child’s mental health.

The physicians stressed that children must never be made to suffer the consequences of paternity disputes.

Speaking to PUNCH Healthwise in separate interviews, the mental health experts maintained that regardless of the biological findings, children deserve consistent love, care, and psychological stability.

A new DNA testing report released by Smart DNA Nigeria revealed that one in every four Nigerian men who undergo paternity testing is not the biological father of the child in question.

The 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, which analysed data collected from July 2024 to June 2025, found that the national paternity exclusion rate currently stands at 25 per cent.

Although slightly down from the 27 per cent recorded in the previous year, the data confirmed a troubling and persistent trend in which many presumed fathers turn out not to be biologically related to their children.

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a disturbing trend of paternity fraud, where children are discovered not to belong to their supposed fathers.

This phenomenon has left many families in shock, with some marriages ending in divorce due to the discovery.

The experts admitted the rising cases of paternity fraud in Nigeria, which has seen many men discover through DNA tests that they are not the biological fathers of the children they have raised.

While acknowledging that such revelations can be emotionally distressing for adults, the mental physicians warned that the real victims of these discoveries are often the children, who are subjected to rejection, neglect, and, in some cases, abuse.

A Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr. Yesiru Kareem, said the emotional toll on a child who suddenly realises that the man he or she has always called “father” no longer wants to play that role can be catastrophic.

He explained that such rejection could lead to serious psychological consequences, including depression, anxiety, identity crises, and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts.

“The revelation that a man is not the biological father should never translate to withdrawing affection or responsibility from the child.

“The psychological trauma that follows such rejection can be long-term. These children did not choose the circumstances of their birth, and punishing them emotionally for it is both unjust and damaging,” he said.

Kareem stressed that fatherhood goes beyond genetics and should encompass emotional, psychological, and social responsibility.

He explained that many children form deep attachments with their father figures from an early age, and severing that bond abruptly can lead to lifelong emotional scars.

He advised that if paternity revelations must be addressed, they should be handled with compassion, discretion, and, most importantly, professional mental health support.

He warned that exposing children to such shocking information without preparation can trigger a mental health crisis, especially in children between the ages of five and ten, who are still forming their sense of identity and belonging.

“Even when DNA results reveal non-paternity, it is important to continue providing emotional support and stability for the child. Abandonment only compounds the trauma,” he added.

Also speaking, a clinical psychologist, Dr. Juliet Ottoh, emphasised that the way such information is handled makes a significant difference.

She said children may interpret rejection as a personal failure, which can damage their self-worth and trust in others.

She explained that children in their formative years are highly sensitive to emotional shifts in their environment.

According to her, discovering that their father is no longer willing to relate to them as before, especially after a DNA revelation, can lead to confusion, fear, withdrawal, and academic decline.

She said, “Children might feel betrayed or even blame themselves. In some cases, they internalise the rejection, believing that they are unwanted or unloved. This can follow them into adulthood, affecting their relationships, mental health, and general outlook on life.”

Ottoh warned that negative paternity revelations can also expose children to societal stigma and ridicule, especially if the situation becomes public knowledge.

She stressed the importance of protecting children from such scrutiny and urged families to avoid turning the matter into a source of public drama.

The physician also noted that some male children who witness their fathers reject them due to DNA results may grow up distrusting women, while female children may develop fears of being rejected or lied to in future relationships.

The psychologist urged fathers to continue fulfilling their parental responsibilities even after discovering non-biological ties.

“Many of these men have built relationships with these children over the years. To walk away suddenly is to undo all the emotional foundation that has been laid.

“Fatherhood is not only about blood—it is about presence, love, and support,” she said.

A Lagos-based DNA testing firm, in a statement released on Sunday on the new DNA testing report, said the findings reflect a growing awareness and demand for scientific confirmation of paternity, especially in urban areas where social pressures, infidelity suspicions, and legal implications are prompting more men to seek clarity.

The report further revealed that firstborn children, particularly sons, were the most likely to return negative paternity results.

Smart DNA disclosed that 64 per cent of all discrepancies involved firstborn sons, while firstborn daughters were also significantly more likely to be misattributed compared to younger siblings.

The study also showed that men overwhelmingly initiate paternity tests, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of cases.

Women, on the other hand, made up just 11.8 per cent of those requesting DNA tests.

Aonkuuse:
... But when a woman abandons and divorce her cheating husband, people call her strong and a wise woman. Why is this life so hard for men

CodeTemplarr:
Let their mother point out the actual father options and let them be reunited with the actual father. Stop gaslithing and blackmailing the male folks.

Maxymilliano:
https://healthwise.punchng.com/dont-abandon-non-biological-children-after-dna-results-experts-tell-fathers/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMXlJVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHodnwQ8PTGTOrzygIHDbSAmT4L0IkUuIQpCauEdMDxrI3jJIQfzyQ5ak4O7o_aem_0nRgR5DVs_lK2kWHX-koDg

Maxymilliano:
https://healthwise.punchng.com/dont-abandon-non-biological-children-after-dna-results-experts-tell-fathers/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMXlJVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHodnwQ8PTGTOrzygIHDbSAmT4L0IkUuIQpCauEdMDxrI3jJIQfzyQ5ak4O7o_aem_0nRgR5DVs_lK2kWHX-koDg