Urban growth dynamic and environmental health in Dodoma municipality, Tanzania

This study aimed at assessing the effects of urban growth dynamics on environmental health in Dodoma Municipality. The study covered 247 households in six sampled wards of Dodoma Municipality. The data were collected using interviews, questionnaires, review of documents and personal observations. The findings have shown that of the four urban growth driver: policy and socio-economic activities, natural population increase, rural-urban migration and boundary re-classification, rural-urban migration was the most significant urban growth driver in Dodoma Municipality. The growing numbers of people in Dodoma Municipality has put a lot of pressure on the urban environment and the provision of physical infrastructures and social services. The uncontrolled growth of Dodoma Municipality has resulted into negative effects on the urban environment and, consequently, on human health. The poor housing, poverty and exposure to crime were some of the urban penalties in Dodoma Municipality. The low quality urban environment evidenced in the Dodoma Municipality-type of urbanization exposed people to environment-related diseases, spatial exclusion and a breakdown of social coherence.