Tanzania Journal for Population studies and Development

Mobility Challenges Faced by Rural Women and the Implementation of the National Transport Policy in Busega District, Tanzania

Deborah Andrew Ngusa — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This article is a product of a study that sought to analyse mobility challenges faced by rural women in Busega District, Tanzania, and examine the practice of implementing the National Transport Policy of 2003. Through adopting the intersectionality theory, the study sought to establish a connection between the implementation of the National Transport Policy (NTP) and its potential to improve the mobility of rural women. The study utilized a cross-sectional research design to collect data from a sample of 210 respondents through a household survey, interviews, focus group discussions, non-participant observation, and documentary review. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data, while descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used for quantitative data. Based on the distribution analysis, it is evident that the majority of rural women were compelled to walk a long distance to access public transportation services. In addition, the Chi-square test results indicate a statistically significant difference at p<0.001 from the five-point Likert-scale, implying that rural women’s satisfaction level on the access to transportation services differed based on the location of their households. The study concludes that despite the intentions of the NTP, its practical implementation has failed to adequately address the unique transport needs and mobility challenges faced by rural women. The study recommends that the government undertake an intersectional analysis of the existing transport policy by identifying and addressing the mobility challenges faced by rural women when accessing public transportation services. This should be achieved by implementing measures that improve the accessibility and availability of transportation options for rural women. Also, the government can promote an equitable and inclusive transportation system that caters for the needs of all citizens.

The Loss of Ecological Control, Pastoralist Migration and Indigenous Knowledge in Tanzania

Christopher S. Awinia — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This article is based on a study on the implications of climate change in bringing about loss of ecological control and climate induced, forced pastoralist migration from one ecosystemic basin to another. It brings out a discussion that migration between different ecosystems lead to the inevitable loss of location-specific indigenous knowledge. This in turn contributes to loss of epidemic control which lead to increased livestock and human vulnerabilities in the destination areas. The article is based on empirical evidence demonstrating that pastoralists are increasingly becoming a vulnerable population group, and internally displaced to new ecosystems as a result of migration as a coping mechanism from extreme weather variations. The study was guided by three objectives: a) to determine whether such migration trends are induced by climate change and loss of ecological control; b) to determine recent trends of pastoralist and livestock migration in Tanzania, and c) to determine the implication of pastoralist migration and loss of indigenous knowledge. The article is based on a study that interviewed 544 pastoralist households in seven districts in Tanzania. A total of 54 Focus Group Discussions and 17 Key Informant Interviews were conducted to complement the household survey. The study provided evidence derived from case-study areas in which recent climatic changes and extreme weather conditions have had accelerated loss of ecological control leading to forced out- migration, depletion of location specific indigenous knowledge and increased vulnerability to epidemics. The article concludes that loss of ecological control is closely associated with loss of epidemic control.

Prospects and Challenges of the Chololo Pits Technology In Enhancing Crop Production in Semi-Arid Areas Of Central Tanzania

Zubeir Khamis Ismail, Abiud Kaswamila, Fredy Maro — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This article explores the prospects and challenges affecting farmers practising the use of chololo pits[1] due to the semi-arid nature of Dodoma. It investigates the prospects and challenges of chololo pits technology in enhancing crop production in the semi-arid Chamwino District. Data was collected through documentary review, household interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and field observation. Findings indicate that improvement of the soil water holding capacity (77.7%, n=337), economic use of fertilizers (74.4%, n=337) and increases in cereal yields (70.6%, n=337) were the major prospects for enhancing crop production. Labour intensity (43%, n=337), required skills (29%, n=337) and difficulty to maintain (13.5%, n=337) were the major challenges of chololo pits in enhancing crop production in the study area. Other minor prospects were reducing soil erosion, concentrating nutrients and protecting seeds and humus from being washed away, while shortage of fertilizer and waterlogging were the minor challenges of chololo pits. The study recommends that the government, in collaboration with NGOs and CBOs, should use more efficient tools to supplement the use of the hand-hoe (agriculture research institutions, COSTECH and SIDO should take lead on this). Also, further research should be conducted, and climate smart agriculture (CSA) and scaling up the chololo pits technology should be advocated.

Awareness and User Satisfaction With Archival Services At the Archives Management Department (RAMD) in Tanzania

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This study assesses the awareness of, and user satisfaction with, archival services that the Records and Archives Management Department (RAMD) provides in Tanzania. It also identifies constraints undermining effective service access. Employing a descriptive research design and a mixed-methods approach, the study collected data from 81 respondents. Of these, four (4) were key informants who participated in interviews, with the remaining 77 taking part in a questionnaire survey. We subjected qualitative data to content analysis and processed quantitative data with the help of the SPSS. Then, Chi-square tests determined the association between the respondents’ awareness of archival services and their demographic characteristics. The study found moderate awareness among the respondents, with gender and education levels varyingly influencing such awareness. On the one hand, the majority of the respondents reported dissatisfaction with RAMD services, particularly the reading room space, service processes, and finding aids. On the other hand, a one-sample test revealed that the respondents were satisfied with record content and customer care. Inadequate ICT infrastructure, reading facilities, material deterioration, and the lack of web-based finding aids emerged as major constraints that contributed to user dissatisfaction. The study results suggest that RAMD should transition to the use of digital platforms (such as websites), as well as use of mass media (like radio and television), to enhance public awareness of RAMD’s services. Moreover, the RAMD should also create a more user-friendly environment, expand the reading room space, train employees, and digitise all the archival materials.

Improving Patient Experience In Healthcare Processes: Discrete Event Simulation-based Approach

Yusta Wilson Simwita — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In an effort to improve patient experience, hospitals face pressure to streamline care processes. This study used discrete event simulation to investigate strategies to improve patient experience in the treatment process characterized by long waiting times. The study proposes a new model of care whereby trained non-surgeons, such as physiotherapists and registered nurses, are involved in treating patients with minor orthopaedic cases. This proposition is expected to have a positive effect by reducing patient waiting time by approximately 73%. Given that developing countries are facing a critical shortage of healthcare personnel, the realized capacity can save the lives of patients that are not supposed to be seen by surgeons due to inadequate capacity. This study informs healthcare managers and policy makers that patient experience in the treatment process can be improved by adopting less-costly strategies, such as using a mid-level workforce to increase workforce capacity and minimize waiting time. This study focused on a single care process with a limited number of variables. It is proposed that subsequent studies could include more than one care process and more variables.

The Relationship Between Self-efficacy and Intention to Engage in Premarital Sex Among Adolescent Students in Public Secondary Schools in Tanzania

Bernadetha Gabriel Rushahu, Joseph Mbawala — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The study examined the relationship between self-efficacy and intention to engage in pre-marital sex among adolescent students in public secondary schools in Tanzania. It employed a quantitative approach guided by correlation design, using structured questionnaires. Three hundred and fifty-seven (357) participants were involved: 172 males and 185 females. The results showed that 61.6% of the respondents had a reasonably high level of self-efficacy, while 70.1% had a lower level of intention to engage in premarital sex. It was also found that there was no statistical relationship between self-efficacy and intention to engage in premarital sex among adolescent students in public secondary schools (p=0.78>0.05). Therefore, the government—through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology—should introduce self-efficacy programmes in the secondary school curriculum, which will help improve moral, social, cognitive and emotional qualities in adolescent students, so that they abstain from any risky sexual behaviours.

Opportunities and Challenges for Professionalizing Monitoring and Evaluation Practice: A Global Overview and Perspectives

Zabron Kengera, Clement Mromba — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Organizations and countries have, in the last one decade or so, been undertaking different efforts and strategies to professionalize monitoring and evaluation as a strategy to improve the quality of its services, and to defend and protect the welfare of commissioners and professionals. This article provides the global trend of professionalization of the field of monitoring and evaluation. The article has generally shown that professionalization of monitoring and evaluation is a necessary strategy for improving the quality of services and products and wider monitoring and evaluation. The adoption of professionalization is determined by a number of factors; and particularly political will, institutionalization, level of maturity of monitoring and evaluation associations and networks, results-based culture, and the maturity of capacity building programmes. Comparatively, North American countries have recorded tremendous achievements in the professionalization of monitoring and evaluation; with Canada reaching the stage of accreditation. Generally in Africa, South Africa, and to a certain extent Ghana, have recorded significant achievements in professionalizing monitoring and evaluation due to the factors just mentioned. In East Africa, the level of monitoring and evaluation professionalization and institutionalization is relatively higher in Uganda and Kenya compared to Tanzania where, despite a few obstacles, there has been a combined effort from the government, TANEA, members of parliament and training institutions to professionalize and institutionalize monitoring and evaluation. Substantial achievement has been made, including -- but not limited to -- improvement of lobbying and support from both the parliament and the president’s office, increased number of short- and long-term training programmes and atheist partial institutionalization of monitoring and evaluation within the government systems.