Determinants of low growth rate of population in lindi region: a Case Study of Nachingwea District
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Date
2005
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
The study intended to find out the influence of migration, marriage instability and breastfeeding on low growth rate of population in Lindi Region. A sample of 150 households comprising women aged 15-49 years in Nachingwea District were selected and interviewed. The results of the study indicate that marriage instabilities in the form of divorce and remarriage ranked the first in lowering the growth rate of population in Lindi Region. The study further revealed that the study population had a divorce rate of 16.7 percent and remarriage was 63.3 percent. These reduce the duration a woman is at risk of child bearing and finally reduces the number of children ever bom per woman. This in turn reduces the growth rate of population in Lindi region. Migration both intra and out of the region ranked the second in lowering the growth rate of population in Lindi region. Migrants in reproductive ages went out the region and, therefore, diminish the number of people in the region and add fertility in the destination areas. This has led to the decrease in the number of labour force in the origin thus disrupting economic activities. Breastfeeding was also very important in lowering the growth rate of population in Lindi region. The study revealed that women in the study area breastfeed their children for quite a long period. The average breastfeeding duration was 21.1 months. The main reasons for such long duration of breastfeeding was due to the fact that many households were poor in such a way that it was difficult for them to have alternative food for feeding their infants. This eventually led to the lengthening of birth intervals.
From those findings the study suggest that the Tanzanian Government should improve economic and social conditions in rural areas to reduce the number of out migrants, make stable marriage and provide alternative balanced diet for the infants
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF HB1952.H37)
Keywords
Determinants, growth rate, population, lindi region, Nachingwea
Citation
Hassani, S (2005), Determinants of low growth rate of population in lindi region: a Case Study of Nachingwea District, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam