Child vulnerability in the Iraqw and Datoga of Haydom village, Northern Tanzania

Abstract

Child vulnerability is a complex human phenomenon that varies contextually. This thesis explores the views of Iraqw and Datoga residents of Haydom village relating to child vulnerability using a concept analysis. The study is a mixed methods study carried out in three stages. The first stage is a non-empirical qualitative literature review; findings from this stage were used to construct questions for the subsequent stage of the study. The second stage of the study is empirical and qualitative, using a focused ethnographic approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty-two adults of the Iraqw and Datoga ethnic groups. Five main themes emerged from a thematic analysis of these interviews; 1) antecedents: lack of resources, 2) contributing antecedents: intentional mistreatment, 3) defining attributes: deprivations in a young individual, 4) consequences: losses suffered, and 5) strategies: dealing with deprivation. Informants’ views were used to construct items for a questionnaire, which was administered in the third stage of the study. This quantitative stage involved eighty young adult respondents of the Iraqw and Datoga ethnic groups. The data in the third stage of the study was analysed statistically, and generally supported the findings of the second stage of the study.

Significant Haydom findings congruent with the literature include that poverty and parental alcoholism are antecedents for child vulnerability, that fathers may be unreliable and that some children cope by persevering and working hard. Findings in Haydom that differ from the literature include the following: some people perceive large family size as a protective factor handicapped, illegitimate and foster children may be mistreated former wealth may predispose to lacking coping skills children as a resource child vulnerability has potential for deterioration, stasis or improvement informants suggested a limited range of strategies, including institutional care, with little stress on volunteerism unrelated fostering is unusual but acceptable to many people. This study recommends local identification of and advocacy for vulnerable children’s rights, and planning of evidence based but culturally acceptable strategies to help them.