Demographic and Socio-economic Determinants of Environmental Knowledge and Attitude Towards Environmental Protection and Soil Conservation Activities, in Samre District, Tigray, Ethiopia
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Date
2009-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The general objective of th is study is to examine the demograph ic and soc io-economic determinants of
knowledge of head of the households on the environment and their attitude towards the environmental
protecti on and so il conservation acti vities in the study area.
The source of data for this study was both primary and secondary. The primary source of data was a crosssectional
data on 450-sampled population, from fi ve kebeles selected through systematic sampli ng with
their prop0I1 ionai samples, tlu·ough household survey using structured questionnaire, in-depth interview,
focus group discussion and personal observation. The secondary source of data was collected through
stati stical abstracts, research reports, journals, Internet sources and related l iteratures.
The unit of analysis for thi s study was at the head of a household level. All kebeles were first studied their
agro-ecological zones, elevation range. average temperature, average rainfa ll , soil conservation activities
and other cultural heritages. Five kebelles with their proportion and a household were selected by
systematic sampling.
A descriptive statistics, bi- variate and multivariate analysis was used. In the case of multi variate analysi s,
logistic regress ion model was used to examine the degree of strength of relation ships between the set of
dependent and independent variables knowledge and attitude.
By using the binary logistic regression model there is a significant difference in the Environmental
knowledge of the sampled population about the environment and soil conservation activities between
male and female, literate and illiterate, those who have better income and those do not have, and between
those who have media exposure and those do not have. On the other hand there is no significant
difference of the respondents between the age group 40-65 and the reference category above age 65,
between the c urrently married and the other group, house hold size and place of residence. The
respondent's attitude towards soil conservation and environmental protection has also a sign ifica nt
diflCrence among the age groups, between currently married and the others, place of residence, media
exposure, literacy status and between those who take cr.edit in the preceded two to three yea rs or not. On
the other hand sex, age group of 40-65, house hold size, remittance, off-farm activit ies, income difference
and number of li vestock has no sign ificant attitudinal effect.
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Keywords
Demographic and Socio-economic Determinants