Browsing by Author "Kessy, Elizabeth"

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    Reasons for the persistence of polygyny in Tanzania: a case study of Mbozi district in Mbeya region
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2009) Kessy, Elizabeth
    This study examined the reasons for the persistence of polygyny in Mbozi District in Mbeya Region. The main objective of this study was to examine the reasons for the persistence of polygyny in Mbozi District. The specific objectives were to examine the extents of polygyny in the District. A sample of 310 respondents, 155 women and 155 men from four wards of Mbozi District (Vwawa, Mlowo, Igamba and Ihanda) were interviewed using structured questionnaire in-depth interview was also conducted to supplement data collected by structured interview. The collected data was entered, edited and analyzed using the statistical package for social scientists (SPSS). Frequency distributions, tables, and charts were produced using the same program. The findings indicate that the persistence of polygyny increased and the reasons for that were given by respondents as (i) To get assistants at work on their large farms (ii) True love (iii) It was their custom. The current overall median age at marriage inn Mbozi District is 18.0 and the mean was 15.0. Education seems to be very low most of respondents had primary level of education grade 1-4.\ In order to reduce the persistence of polygyny in Mbozi District, the minimum age at first marriage should be raised to 20 years for girls. And this should be done by educating girls to secondary school and making secondary education to be compulsory. Secondly, deliberate efforts should be taken to raise women’s status and the government should enable them to engage in skillful employment activities which will in turn change their minds and reduce polygyny rate.