Factors Influencing Divorce And Childhood Development In Zanzibar: A Case Study Of Urban West

ABSTRACT 

The study was assessing the factors influenced Divorces, and Childhood development in Zanzibar and took Urban West as a case study, because there was no research of such nature. Judgmental sampling procedure was employed. Twenty-five (25) of the respondents were women, twenty five Men (25), were selected for questionnaire surveys. Twenty one (21) Children were chosen for Focused Group Discussion (FGD) and eighteen (18) Officers from different institutions were purposively selected for interviews. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 and Microsoft office 2003 and 2007. The study has revealed that about twelve (12) respondents which were equal to twenty four percent (24%) of the respondents indicated divorces was influenced by economic factors, about sixteen (16) respondents which is equal to thirty two percent (32%) of the respondents argued that divorce was influenced by socio cultural factors. More over fourteen (14) respondents‘ which is equal to twenty eight (28%) percent of the respondents said that family conflicts were one among the factors that encouraged divorces. On the average of about eight (8) respondents who were equal to sixteen percent (16%) respondents indicated that political factors were among the reasons for divorces. However eighty two percent (82%) of the whole respondents argued that most of divorce experienced by women in Zanzibar were re married by other spouse. Indeed, thirty seven (37) respondents who were equal to seventy seven point one percent (77.1%) replied that the divorce had psychological impacts to the development of children in the society. While eleven (11) respondents who were equal to twenty two point one (22.1%) said that divorces doesn‘t have any impacts to the development of children in the society. Some seventeen (17) respondents which is equal to thirty five point four percent (35.4%) also strongly agreed. Lastly, minority of the respondents felt that Children should live with vi their mothers six ( 6) respondents which is equal to twelve percent (12%).Moreover, most of the eighteen (18) respondents which is equal to thirty six percent (36%) said that the parents themselves to be together in taking care of the child/children. The researcher conclusively argued that Marriage couple always should be very honest to each other in order to protect their marriages. Parents also should take their responsibilities to provide marriage education to their children during their marriages. Thus, when married they should understand each other is their responsibilities.