Assessment of Home Management Practices and Family Well-Being Among Low-Income Households in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria

Home management encompasses the planning, organisation, and efficient utilisation of family resources to achieve household goals and promote overall well-being. Among low-income households, effective home management is particularly significant in mitigating the adverse effects of poverty. This study assessed home management practices and their relationship to family well-being among low-income households in selected communities in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with structured questionnaires administered to 250 household heads and homemakers selected through systematic random sampling. Well-being was measured using indicators related to food security, health-seeking behaviour, hygiene, and children's educational participation. Descriptive and inferential statistics including regression analysis were used to analyse data. Results revealed that a majority of respondents practised informal budgeting and allocated significant proportions of household income to food and housing. Households where homemakers demonstrated higher levels of home management knowledge recorded better scores on family well-being indices. Resource allocation decision-making was predominantly male-dominated, which constrained women's ability to implement effective household management strategies. The study recommends home economics extension services and financial literacy programmes tailored for low-income urban families, with particular attention to empowering women as primary household managers. Keywords: home management, family well-being, low-income households, Ibadan, resource allocation