Level, Differential and Determinants of Divorce in East Belesa Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The Study focuses on the Level, Differential and Determinants of Divorce in East Belesa Woreda

Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Divorce is a widespread and deeply entrenched phenomenon both in the urban and rural parts of Ethiopia. According to (Seid, 2014) Gondar is one of the cities of the country that has been showing a dramatic rise in the divorce rate in recent years. In addition, in East Belesa many Divorce occurred by traditional way. The study is initiated with the objective of assess Level, Differential and Determinant factors of divorce in the study area. Based on the objectives the research answered the following main questions; what was the prevalence of divorce in East Belessa woreda?. What are the basic demographic, socio-cultural and economic factors of divorce in East Belessa woreda?. And what are differentials in divorce by demographic, socio -cultural and economic determinants in east Belessa woreda?. Crosssectional,

type of research design was employed for the study and both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. For the quantitative data 393 randomly selected households and for the qualitative part 18 divorcees and 8 purposively selected community and religious leaders participated. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data while qualitative data were collected through interviews and focus group discussions. The quantitative data were analyzed quantitatively using percentage while the qualitative data were narrated and paraphrased. The result of the study indicated that the prevalence of divorce were 13.5% and major causes of divorce were, age at first marriage and have children (demographic), health problem, absence of love, (socio-cultural )and shortage of food supply (economic). Unless interventions are made the rate of divorce will continue resulting in demographic and sociocultural factors like, age at first marriage, have children, health problem and absence of love. It

is better

if the center of marriage and family counseling will initiated and organized with the help of both government and non-government organizations. Further study with additional predictor variables have to be made so as to address the issues raised in this study.