To Examine the Underpinning Factors Responsible for Child Streetism in Dar Es Salaam and Dodoma Cities, Tanzania

Abstract

Purpose: This paper examines the underpinning factors responsible for child streetism in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma cities, Tanzania. Methodology: The study employed a qualitative method. Instruments for data collection included participants’ interviews, key informant interviews, and document review.  The adopted research paradigm was the interpretivism research paradigm. This paradigm was chosen on the basis that the study wanted to have in-depth information on the influence of income poverty and family development on child streetism adopting the qualitative nature of the research. The adopted research approach was the inductive research approach because of the qualitative nature of the study. The population consisted of street children living on the streets of Dodoma and Dar es Salaam cities in Tanzania while the study sample size included 38 street children and 18 key informants. Findings: The findings revealed that income, poverty, and Lack of family capacity to meet children’s basic needs such as food, shelter, clothes, education, and health needs were the main causes of child streetism. The study findings are also supported by the vulnerability theory. The theory shows how vulnerable environments including poverty may lead to certain social consequences. According to this theory, children’s vulnerability is explained in different ways including being victims of hunger and homelessness, which is considered an identity of a vulnerable population. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Vulnerability theory recognizes that the human experience of constant vulnerability varies as a result of stages in the life course, social institutions, and law, which often trace intersecting forms of oppression on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, disability, and class. Vulnerability thus provides a heuristic device for exposing the structural privilege and disadvantage enveloped in these relationships and suggests ways to readjust them in order to advance social justice and lessen inequality. It is recommended that the Regional Administrations and Local Government Authorities in collaboration with other stakeholders establish a special campaign to enroll street children into the education system and facilitate family reunification