The impact of some demographic and socio-economic variables on desired family size among rural and urban residents: a case study of Kilimanjaro region.

Urassa, Mary Shifaya

The impact of some demographic and socio-economic variables on desired family size among rural and urban residents: a case study of Kilimanjaro region.

Date

1994

Authors

Urassa, Mary Shifaya

Publisher

University of Dar es Salaam

Abstract

The MA Demography students (1992/94) from the University of Dar-es-salaam through team work made a survey in Mwanga and Moshi-urban district from July to August 1993. The general objective of the survey was to collect some demographic and socio-economic data focussing on Fertility, Mortality, Migration, Urban growth and Human resources. Household questionnaire (interview schedule) was used in the exercise. This particular study, examined the impact of some demographic and socio-economic variables like education, occupation, residence, contraception, women age and Children Ever Born (CEB) on Desired Family Size. The study is organised into seven chapters. The first chapter, is the introduction to the study which comprises background to the study, statement of the problem, conceptual framework, objective of the study, hypotheses, significance of the study and definition of terms. Chapter two is on the literature review. The chapter reviews literature on education and desired family size, occupation and desired family size, place of residence and desired family size, contraception and desired family size, women age and desired family size arid children ever born (CEB) and desired family size. Chapter three describe the study area and the research methodology. It is subdivided into the following sections: Area of study, location and size, climate, vegetation, demographic and socio-economic characteristics, ethnic groups, population distribution, fertility end mortality trends, economic activities, field work preparations, questionnaire pretesting, the study population and sample size, data collecting technique and procedure, quality of data, data processing and analysis and limitation to the study. Chapter four is on the influence of education on desired family size. The chapter is divided into two main sections. Section one is on the women education and desired family size and section two locks on the relationship between ever married men education and desired family size. Chapter five looks on the influence of occupation on desired family size. This particular chapter is divided into two major darts. Fart one is on the women type of occupation and desired family size and part two locks on the relationship between ever married men type of occupation and desired family size. Chapter six embarks on some demographic variables which do influence desired family size such as women age, contraception and children ever born (CEIB). The chapter is divided into three main sections. Section one is on contraception and desired family size, section two is on the women age and desired family size and section three is on the children ever born (CEB) and desired family size. Chapter seven which is on summary, conclusions and recommendations has four section: section one is the summary of the study, section two is on the findings of the study, section three is on conclusions reached and section four embarks on study recommendations. The major findings of the study are summarised below: i) Education has been found to influence decision on desired family size. Those with secondary and above education were found to desire smaller family size than those in lower levels of education. (ii) Type of occupation in which one is engaged has been found to influence desired family size. Respondents engaged in skilled occupation desired smaller family size while those engaged in agriculture in both rural and urban areas desired larger family size than in other categories of occupations. (iii} Rural-urban fertility differential has been recorded Irrespective of level of education, type of occupation, contraception, women age and children ever born rural residents were found to desire larger family size then urban residents. However, the difference was not significant. (iv ) Women age and children ever born has been found to influence decision on the desired family size. Those with large CEB were found to desire larger family size then those with lower CEB. In the same line women respondents in higher ages ( (40-49) were found to desire larger family size than those in middle and lower ages. (v) The relationship between desired family size an contraception has been established. It has been found that female respondents whose desired family size was smaller than their CEB did contracept, those who desired large family size larger than their CEB did not contracept and those whose desired family size equal to CEB did contracept. (vi) )In regard to level of education, type of occupation and place of residence ever married men were found to desire large family size than women aged 15-49 years. (viii)Costs involved in upbringing and educating children and changing economic situation has been cited as the reason for the desired family size. In the light of the above findings Bagamoyo, it is recommended that education at all levels (primary secondary and above) should be emphasized to both males and females. Also family life education should be introduced at all levels of education for both males and females. To control rapid population growth, family planning services should further be extended to rural areas and should consider the possibility of involving men.

Description

Available in print form

Keywords

Fertility, Human, Family size, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Mwanga, Moshi

Citation

Urassa, M. S. (1994). The impact of some demographic and socio-economic variables on desired family size among rural and urban residents: a case study of Kilimanjaro region. Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx?parentpriref=)