Socio-economic factors influencing single-motherhood in Tanzania: the case study of Ilala and Temeke District in Dar es Salaam City

Single motherhood is a new and growing institution in the world. In our communities, normally people expect to see both parents in a household as it is believed that; development and prosperity of members of the family need the presence of the father and mother. In recent years, it have been observed that the numbers of single mothers in towns and cities are increasing day to day. This study investigated the problems of single motherhood in Ilala and Temeke in Dar es Salaam city. The study assessed the factors which cause single motherhood, the problems that face single mothers and children of singles mothers. The survey was conducted in two districts; Ilala (Ilala and Tabata wards) and Temeke (chang’ombe and Kurasini wards). The study population comprised women age 15 to 80 years and snow ball sampling was used to select the sample of the study. A total of 120 women were interviewed and the selection of villages and wards was done through random sampling. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaires starting with a few single mothers who were telling about others whom they know, this helped the researcher to collect data up to 120 respondents. Descriptive statistics and statistical tests were used in the analysis of data. The study revealed that there are different reasons for single motherhood including; widowhood, divorce, separation and adolescence pregnancies. Other are pre marital sex and promise to marry then abandoned by the partner after getting pregnant. Absolute poverty cause stress to single mothers, the situations has negative impact to their children due to shortage of food, clothes, medical services, school fees and less socialization. Then law attainment to children in all aspects of life including education. The finding then, implied that there is need to establish supportive programs so that the families of single mothers can be provided with all the necessaries of life. This will build a Nation with strong people in all aspects of life. It is, also, recommended that a study about widowhood be carried all over the country to study the magnitude and causes of the problem.