The impact of divorce on children’s well-being in Morogoro municipality
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Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Divorce creates big challenges for both parents and children as it affects the
children’s well-being. Despite the presence of various literatures on the impact of
divorce on children’s well-being, these impacts were not clearly differentiated in
terms of age, gender and economic status of the household. Therefore, this study was
carried out to examine the impact of divorce on children’s wellbeing in Morogoro
municipality. Specifically, the study assessed the children’s perception of divorce,
examined the impact of divorce on children’s educational performance, assessed the
impact of divorce on children’s food security based on their age, gender and
economic status of the household and identified children’s coping mechanism of
divorce. Purposive sampling was employed to obtain 120 respondents whereby 20
respondents were obtained from the six (6) wards namely Mazimbu, Mji mpya,
Chamwino, Sultan area, Kichangani and Mwembesongo. Data was analysed using
descriptive statistics; test of independence (Chi-square) was used to determine said
descriptive statistics. A Likert scale was also employed to measure children’s
perception on divorce. Variables such as age, gender and economic status of the
respondents were significant at (p < 0.05). Various coping mechanisms for children
affected by divorce in the aspects of educational performance and food security were
identified. Begging from friends and neighbours was the major mechanism for
coping with the impact of divorce. The study recommends that governmental and
non-governmental organizations help children of divorced families especially those
abandoned by their parents. Social welfare departments at district levels should
implement the Child Protection Act of 2010 which assists children to access the rights they deserve. At an educational level, children of divorced parents should be
considered or given attention by the teachers.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Divorce, Divorce-children’s educational performance, Divorce-children’s food security