An assessment of Community Perspectives on the persistence of Divorce incidents in Tanzania: A case of Kinondoni Municipality.

Kalangasa, Kelvin (2024) An assessment of Community Perspectives on the persistence of Divorce incidents in Tanzania: A case of Kinondoni Municipality. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study aimed to assess the community perspectives on the persistence of divorce incidents in Tanzania: A case of Kinondoni Municipality. The study is guided by three specific objectives: to assess community awareness of the divorce issue, to examine the influence of urbanization on shaping marital dynamics, and to explore the impact of cultural and traditional practices on relationships. The study applied cross-sectional research design and mixed methods approach combining both qualitative and quantitative data. Data collection methods involved the use of questionnaires and interview guides, and analysis performed using both descriptive and narrative methods. sample size of 98 participants, drawn from a total population of 386 divorced in Kinondoni Municipality. Sampling was done using purposive and random techniques to select (75) divorced parents, (07) ward social welfare officers, (05) municipal social welfare officers, (07) religious leaders, and (04) magistrates. Findings revealed that there was high community awareness of the rising divorce rates, with contributing factors identified as unfaithfulness, economic instability, urbanization, domestic violence, lack of intimacy, and infertility. Urbanization was found to significantly influence marital dynamics by introducing new lifestyles, stressors, and exposure to different cultural values. Cultural and traditional influences, such as arranged marriages and rigid gender roles, were also seen as contributing to marital conflicts and eventual divorce, it is recommended that provision of education programs, pre-marital counseling, and further research be conducted to explore the long-term effects of divorce, as well as comparative studies.

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