Child rearing among the Arsi Oromo: Values, Beliefs and Practices
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The major purpose of the present study was to assess the indigenous parenting values
and beliefs that Arsi Oromo parents tend to foster in their parenting practices. It specifically
examines the relationships among parenting values, beliefs and practices. To that effect, a mixed
methods research design was employed. A total of 481 participants were selected using stratified
random sampling techniques coupled with purposive sampling. More specifically, while the two
Arsi zones and informants of FGD were purposively selected, districts and Kebeles were selected
through simple random sampling techniques. Moreover, while the participants of the household
observations were randomly selected, the respondents of the questionnaire scales were selected
through stratified random sampling . In addition, both quantitative and qualitative data were
generated from primary sources using both quantitative (questionnaire scales) and qualitative
(FGD and household observation) methods. In order to address the basic research questions and
test the hypotheses formulated in the study, data were analyzed using Pearson correlation
coefficients, multiple regression, t-test, and ANOVA statistical techniques. Accordingly, the
current study generally revealed several important findings about parenting values, beliefs, and
practices of Arsi people and about their relationships. First, in the process of child socialization
the majority of Arsi households endorsed conforming parenting values more often than self-
directing parenting values. Second, the majority of Arsi households endorsed traditional
authoritarian beliefs more often than progressive democratic beliefs. Third, sex-role
socialization; physical punishment; breast-feeding and provision of cow milk as well as infant-
mother co-sleeping are customary practices of Arsi Oromo in child socialization. Fourth,
gender-segregated division of labor, harmful traditional beliefs and values, patriarchical family
structure, and traditional Oromo proverbs were perceived as major sources for the practices of
sex-role socialization, physical punishment, and inadequate verbal interaction among Arsi
Oromo. Fifth, parenting values and beliefs were found to be strongly associated with parenting
behaviors and that parenting values and beliefs strongly predicted parenting behaviors. Sixth,
paternal involvement in household chores and childrearing activity was found to be minimal
compared to mothers. Last, compared to urban households, rural households of Arsi reported a
significantly large number of offsprings. Moreover, based on the results of the current study, the
following conclusions and implications were drawn. First, the parenting of Arsi people is more
characterized by conformity value orientations and traditional authoritarian beliefs where these,
in turn, encourage the use of impulsive and overly harsh disciplines and leave little room for
fostering self-directing values. Second, gendered division of labor, some traditional beliefs and
safuu values, patriarchal family structure, and some traditional proverbs were perceived as
major sources of sex-segregated role socialization, for using impulsive discipline, and of
inadequate verbal conversation among Arsi Oromo, where these call for appropriate and culture
sensitive interventions. Third, compared to Arsi mothers, Arsi fathers play little roles in the early
socialization of children, domestic tasks, and child care activities, where these continue to put
Arsi mothers under pressure with childrearing responsibilities and household chores. Fourth,
compared to urban households, rural households have large number of offsprings, where this
high fertility will have detrimental influence on the quality of parenting and child development.
Last, parenting strategy differed by the residence, educational level and occupational categories
of parents
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Keywords
Beliefs and Practices