Browsing by Author "Mbwambo, J.S"

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Climate change impacts and adaptation among coastal and mangrove dependent communities: a case of Bagamoyo district
(2012) Mbwambo, J.S; Madalla, D; Zahabu, E; Ndelolia, D; Mnembuka, B; Lamtane, H. A; Mwandya, A. W
The study was done to determine perception, impacts and adaptation of coastal communities towards climate change. A total of three villages and 120 respondents were involved in the study. Both Focus Group Interviews and a structured questionnaire survey were employed for collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. Content and structural functional analysis was used for qualitative data while descriptive and logistic and regression analysis was employed for quantitative data. Results indicates that majority of the community are involved in both fishing and farming activities for both food and cash income. Results indicates further that majority of the respondents are aware of climate change and they perceive the same in relation to unusual rainfall (87.5%), drought (93.3%), floods (74.1%) and increased incidence of pest and diseases (55.8%). It was also found that farmers are coping with food insecurity as a result of declining food stocks and they have also developed adaptation strategies related to farming operations and livelihoods. However, adaptation varies depending on various farm and household factors and in this income, number of plots, extension services and farm size were highly significant and showed strong positive influence on adaptation to climate change. It is concluded that farmers are aware of climate change and have developed both coping and adaptation strategies against climate hazards. Promotion of extension and enhancement of off-farm activities are recommended for enhancing adaptive capacity of the population in the study area.
Determinants of Higher Fertility Rates in Igunga District, Tanzania: Does Women Empowerment Matters?
(2013) Mbwambo, J.S; Chingonikaya, E.E; Mwatawala, H.W
This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between women’s empowerment and fertility in rural Tanzania. Data were collected from randomly selected 120 women in four randomly selected villages from two wards in Igunga District using a structured and non-structured questionnaire. Descriptive and regression analyses using Statistical Package for Social Sciences were employed to determine the factors for fertility. Women’s empowerment was measured by five proxies: economic decision making, mobility, coercive control, family planning and contraceptive use, and family size decision making. Fertility status was measured by age specific fertility rates and total fertility rates. The main argument adopted by the study was that higher fertility rates might be lowered through interventions that enhance women empowerment. The results indicates clearly that women in the study area are less empowered based on the adopted indicators and such lower levels of empowerment together with demographic and cultural factors including men’s dominance are responsible for higher fertility in the study area. The study recommends that interventions addressing cultural factors and enhancement of women empowerment may lower higher fertility rates from the study area. Moreover, while this study dealt with women as the unit of data collection and analysis, it is important that such intervention should involve both men and women. This, as seen from male dominance, is important because any change that is expected will come from decisions made and owned by men