Perception of Peoples' about the Effect of Population Growth on the Environment: The Case of Gidda Ayyana Woreda, East Wollega (Oromia Region)
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Date
2009-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Context: Ethiopia is one of the countries with rapid population growth, dense settlement in
the highland parts, and degraded environment. These si tuations of the country cause
imbalance between population growth and the existing natural resources. To ba lance the .~
population growth with the existing natural resources, the perception of people on the
effect of population growth on the envi ronment would be raised. In light to this problem,
this study was conducted with an objective of analyzing the role of demographic, social, and
economic factors on the perception of people's on the effect of population growth on the
environment.
Methodology: The data used in this study was collected from 423 sample household heads
of the two'kebeles' of Jidda Ayyana Woreda. The methods of data analysis used in the
study were bi- va riate and logistic regression. The bi-variate analysis used to see the
relationship between demographic, social, and economic variables and perception. Logistic
regression was used to assess the net effect of each independent va riable on the perception
of people's on the effect of popu lation growth on the environment.
Results: Among the independent variables entered in to the logistic regression educational
sta tus, contact with development and family planning agents and access to mass media have
a significant and positive influence on the level of perception.
111e findings of the study also showed that, about 61.5% and 55.7% of the people in the
study area perceived the effect of population growth on the agricultural land and forest
resources respectively.
Conclusion: The demographic variables have no net effect on the perception of people on
the effect of population growth on the environment. On the other hand, from socioeconomic
variables educational status, contact with family plaJu1ing and development
agents and access to mass media have net effect on perception of people about the effect of
population growth on the environment
Recommendation: To raise the level of perception of people on the effect of population
growth on the environment, environmental issues would be inculcated in the educational
curriculum of the country at all educational level, family planning and development agents
would work in close contact with the community, and the information sources of the society
should be expanded.
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Keywords
Perception of Peoples