Evaluating the Challenges Facing Single Parenting in Kigamboni District of Tanzania

Abstract

The study focuses on challenges facing single parenting in Tanzania and the Kigamboni district in particular. While most scholars asserted single parenting is ineffective in sub-Saharan Africa, little evidence is available on the challenges of single parenting, particularly in Tanzania. Becker’s economic theory and Bowlby's attachment theories were applied in the study. The former focuses on an economic angle as the atomy of family formation and the latter shows that our attachment representation is from the sensitivity of care received from our primary caregivers. The study used a case study design in which Kigamboni district of Tanzania was the area of investigation. Qualitative data, that is, words and phrases were analysed. Ten single-parents' families were selected purposefully by using the snowball technique. Unstructured interviews were used as a method to collect the intended data from the participants. Findings have shown that the challenges of single parenting centred on the aspects of psychological, financial constraints, and academic performance. In Tanzania there is a steady rise in single parenting, which has an impact on the welfare of the children, parents, and community at large. It is recommended that alternative care and guidance and counseling programmes should be established especially for needy children and single parents.