Determinants of fertility among low income household in Morogoro municipality
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Date
2010
Authors
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Publisher
Sokoine University Of Agriculture
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine the determinants of fertility among low income
household in Morogoro Municipal. Specifically, the study intended to determine the
household head income status; compare the number of children found in the low income
with that found in the high income households; and to investigate the factors influencing
fertility. The study interviewed 120 randomly selected respondents and conducted FGD to
4 FGD participants from four wards. Of the respondents, 63 % were poor while 37% were
rich. The study reveals further that the majority of low income females have more children
than the number of children found with the countci-parts. The study also reveals that female
education attainment and age at first child is significant. Moreover, the study concludes that
sex preference and the child’s value are strong cultural variables influencing fertility in the
study area. The study provides the following policy implications and recommendations:
Female education is the most important engine for social change therefore it should be
given first priority in order to improve the overall status of women particularly on matters
related to reproductive autonomy.
Furthermore, many strategics should be adopted to
establish development programmes such as income generating activities and projects to
help the poor; as these are highly vulnerable and are the most marginalized group in the
society. Such development programmes should aim at raising the income status and living
standards of the people generally. By so doing the people would adopt social-cultural and
social-economic development approaches that would consequently lead to lowering down
of the fertility levels. Moreover, it’s important to establish special education programmes
through counseling session, seminars and workshops that would change people’s traditional
attitude that favour large family sizes. In this respect, there should be community
participation approach in which local leaders involvement should be of primary
importance. Through them, community sensitization on issues related to population control
would be possible among the people from different backgrounds.
Description
Msc. Dissertation
Keywords
Household head income status, High income households, Low income household, Morogoro municipality