Browsing by Author "Badnessa, Fekadu"

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    The Impact of Development Projects on Some Socio- Demographic Variables: A Comparative Study of Atat Hospital's Women's Groups in Rural Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 1998-06) Badnessa, Fekadu; Gebresellassie, Seyoum (Professor)
    A growing consensus on the demographic impact of development projects began to emerge in the international community that economic growth alone was not enough and that the demographic and social objectives of development should be addressed. The fertility impact of development projects, which has acquired increased importance since the last two and a half decades, has now gained the attention of policy makers and program initiators particularly in developing cDuntries. This thesis is an empirical study on some socio-demographic impact of development project, namely Ala! Hospital's Women's Groups in two comparative communities (community receiving project and the one not receiving it) in rural Ethiopia. Twenty one women's groups in beneficiary community and four Peasant Associations in non-beneficiary community in Cheha wereda of Gurage zone constitute the study material with representative ever-married sample women of 348 and 400 respectively. Various socia-economic and demographic situation of the project and non-project communities are elaborated based on empirical data. Religion, education, self perceived economic well-being, child loss experience. a woman's decision -making autonomy, age, age at first marriage, current and life-time fertility, marital status and marriage type, maternal and child health care, water, sanitation and hygiene are included. Besides, the duration of staying of partiCipation in women's groups, knowledge and use of natural and modern family planning are treated in detail. The objectives of the study include to examine, analyze and compare: the knowledge and practice of family planning; the fertility of ever-married women; the variation, if any, in environmental sanitation, maternal and child health care in the project and non-project communities using some of the health indicator variables. It was also meant to determine the relative importance of each of the explanatory variables on life time fertility. Finally, on the basis of the findings to identify issues relevant for program intervention, policy formulation and further research. Towards these end bi-variate, Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) multiple regression techniques were employed. The results of bi-variate analysis show that in spite of the socio-cultural and demographic Similarities, the beneficiary ever-married women have much higher levels of maternal and child health care, access to potable water, sanitation and hygiene. They also have more knowledge of family planning, lower estimated total fertility rate (TFR), and attitude towards small family size; higher unmet need for contraception, higher decision-making autonomy and perceived economic well-being. The results of OLS regression analysis revealed that age, age at first marriage, two and at least three children loss through death, above grade seven education, perceived economic well-being, current use of modem contraception, decision-making autonomy, and five years and above participation in women's groups were found to have significant relationship with fertility in the project group. About 41 % of the variation in fertility (CEB) was significantly explained by the above-stated variables. For the non-project ever-married women, age, age at first marriage, two and at least three children loss through death, grade seven and above education and current use of modern contraception were Significantly related to fertility. About 62% of the variation in fertility was significantly explained by these stated predictors. Based on major findings of the study, the thesis indicates major areas for further research, policy and program intervention. These include more combined quantitative and qualitative research on the effects of development projects in other parts of Ethiopia including the Atat Hospital's Programs; and more comprehensive and effective family planning, reproductive and child health program. These can lead to the reduction in fertility, maternal and child mortality, upgrading the status of women through decision making autonomy which in tum contribute to attaining the fertility and mortality objectives of the National Population and Women Policy of Ethiopia.