Actress and TV presenter Victoria Zugah, popularly known as Vicky Zugah has disclosed that people see her as a "bad person" because she is a single mother.

She told Elizabeth Essuman and her panellists in a recent podcast, The Real Talk Podcast on single parenting, it's challenges and how societal reactions towards single parenting.

Single parenting refers to raising a child or children alone, without a live-in partner to share responsibilities. This situation can arise from divorce, separation, non-marriage, or the death of a partner.

Globally, about 13% of women aged 18–60 are single mothers, and the world average for single-parent households stands at around 7%.

However, rates are considerably higher in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa (32%) and Latin America (24%).

The conversation began when Vicky remarked that, in today’s world, particularly within the Ghanaian context, most men tend to prioritise their goals over their families, while many women are inclined to prioritise family over ambition.

She suggested that this dynamic has contributed to the higher number of women who find themselves single parents compared to men.

Single parents often face significant social stigma, including societal judgements and stereotypes that can affect self-esteem and lead to feelings of isolation.

“I have been called a ‘bad person’ because I’m a single mother. It used to affect me back then, but not anymore,” she revealed.

“In our society, single parenting can be saddening when some single parents must manage all aspects of parenting alone and rely heavily on support systems such as family and friends,” she added.