The effect of poverty on reproductive and child health in kagera region in Tanzania
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Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study was conducted in three districts of Kagera Region (Bukoba Rural, Muleba and Misenyi) in Tanzania. It sought empirically to ascertain the direction of and the relative impact that poverty and other socio-economic variables have on reproductive and child health. It interviewed 734 women each from a household and each with children under the age of 5. It employed Heckman’s Model, Special Regressor and the Generalized Linear Inequality Model to analyze the data. This study has found that poverty (5%), poor health services (15%), ignorance and false beliefs (60%) are the main factors for the underutilization of reproductive and child health services. It has also found that poverty adversely and significantly affects child health, reproductive health and the demand for reproductive health. Poverty contributes (17%) to child illness inequalities. Also, residence in Bukoba Rural District is adversely and significantly associated with reproductive and child health. This study also shows that the use of birth control methods, women immunization during pregnancy, being married and giving birth for the first time at the age of between 20 and 35 positively and significantly affect women’s reproductive health. Furthermore, it has found that educated female partners significantly and positively influence the demand for reproductive health. This study also shows that, as children approach the age of 5, their health deteriorates significantly. Therefore, it recommends intensification of the ongoing strategies for poverty reduction, enhancement of public education on the use of birth control methods, provision of improved nutrition, provision of education to child caregivers and enforcement as well as passing of new laws for preventing teenage pregnancies.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF HC79.P6.T34M84)
Keywords
reproductive, health
Citation
Mukyanuzi, E.N (2019) The effect of poverty on reproductive and child health in kagera region in Tanzania, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam.