Paternity fraud is not solely due to infidelity. Psychologists highlight medical negligence, genetic testing errors, and baby exchanges as contributing factors.

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]sychologists have linked the rising cases of paternity fraud to various factors beyond infidelity.

According to experts, medical errors, inaccuracies in genetic testing, and even baby exchanges in hospitals can lead to false assumptions about a child’s paternity.

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Speaking exclusively to Healthwise, Dr Juliet Ottoh, a clinical psychologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, stressed that couples should explore all possibilities before concluding that infidelity is the cause.

She highlighted that factors such as negligence, ignorance, and errors in genetic tests could play a role in paternity discrepancies.

Ottoh further emphasised that baby exchanges in hospitals due to staff negligence have contributed to such issues.

She advised couples to seek second opinions from reputable genetic testing labs before making assumptions. “It’s crucial to verify results from reliable labs before labelling anyone,” she added.

Dr Samuel Olatoye, a psychologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, noted that negligence and genetic testing errors are often overlooked.

He advised that couples undergo genetic counselling before marriage to avoid potential paternity disputes.

A recent DNA report from Smart DNA revealed that 27 per cent of paternity tests conducted in Nigeria were negative, with most tests initiated by men for personal reassurance.

The psychological and physical health impacts of these revelations can be significant, affecting both the child and the family unit.