Common Factors Contributing to Divorce among Couples in Zanzibar

Ramadhan Nassor Omar *

University of Iringa (UoI), P.O. Box 200, Iringa, Tanzania and Sumait University, P.O. Box, 1933, Chukwani-Zanzibar, Tanzania.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

This dissertation attempts to assess assessed common factors contributing to divorce among couples in Zanzibar. The study employed a qualitative research approach where by interview and documentary reviews were used as a method of data collection. A total of 35 participants involved in this study, where by 30 participants were divorced men and women who were obtained through snowball sampling and five Kadhis who were purposely selected from both Unguja and Pemba districts. Thematic analysis procedure was applied to analyze data. The study found that there is a high prevalence of divorce among Zanzibar couples. The interviewees were particularly concerned about the overwhelming number of divorces which was on a steady uptrend. The study identifies factors which lead to the rate of divorce in Zanzibar and found that lack of tolerance among the couples, family interference of their children marriage, psychological and emotional abuse were the major common factors contributing to divorce among couples in Zanzibar. The study concluded that divorce problem is at larger extent and participants are aware of the magnitude of the divorce and it occurs every day and everywhere in Zanzibar. Thus this is a serious problem among young couples and children. In addition, family interference of children marriage and social networking, immaturity, sexual dissatisfaction, psychological and emotional abuse, drug abuse, poverty, belief on financial expenditure, financial stress contributes more to divorce among Zanzibar people. This leads to majority of young couples to face frequently fights in their marriages hence influencing divorce.

Keywords: Factors, divorce, couples


How to Cite

Omar, R. N. (2022). Common Factors Contributing to Divorce among Couples in Zanzibar. Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 18(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.9734/arjass/2022/v18i4398


References

Amato PR. Research on divorce: continuing trends and new developments. Journal of Marriage and the Family. 2012;72(3):650-66.

Afifi TD, Davis S, Denes A, Merrill A. Analyzing divorce from cultural and network approaches. J Fam Stud. 2013;19(3):240-53.

Elena. Top 10 countries with highest divorce rate in the World - with Highest Divorce- World- Famous-Lowest-India-Japan/. Accessed. On 22nd March 2022. 2018.

Dommaraju P, Jones G. Divorce trend in Asia. Asian J Soc Sci. 2011;39(6):725-50.

Adeniran A, O. Analytical study of the casual factors of divorce in African Home. Res HumanitSoc Sci. 2015;5(14):18- 29.

Mngondo E. Special Report: concern as divorce rate in Zanzibar nears 32pc. Available:https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/; 2014, December 22.

Nuzulack D. The Nightmare of Divorce Is Gnawing at Tanzanian Marriages; 2017, August 21.

Available: https://data.mwananchi.co.tz/.

Ngwali HO. Divorce report. Deputy chief kadhi. Zanzibar: Kadhi Court of Zanzibar; 2014.

Adamu A, Temesgen M. Divorce in east Gojjam zone: rates, causes and consequences. Wudpecker. J Sociol Anthropogy. 2014;2(1):008.

Angacian S, Bray MA, Kehle TJ, Byer-Alcorace G, Theodore LA, Cross K et al. School-based intervention for social skills in children from divorced families. J ApplSch Psychol. 2015;31(4):315-46.

DOI: 10.1080/15377903.2015.1084964.

Hertlein KM. Therapeutic dilemmas in treating Internet cheating. Am J Fam Ther. 2011;39(2):162-73.

DOI: 10.1080/01926187.2010.530927.

Docan-Morgan T, Docan CA. Internet cheating: double standards and the Differing Views of women and men. Commun Q. 2012;55(3):31.

Groothof HAK, Dijkstra P, Barelds DPH. Sex differences in jealousy: the case of Internet cheating. J Soc Personal Relat. 2009;26(8):1119-29.

DOI: 10.1177/0265407509348003.

Mileham BLA. Online cheating in Internet chat; 2007.

Lupkin S. Can Facebook ruin your marriage? [online]. 2012;41(89):247-9. Available:http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/facebook-relationship-status/story?id=1640624514ultChildren.Journal of Marriage and the Family.

Helsper EJ, Whitty MT. Netiquette within married couples: agreement about acceptable online behavior and surveillance between partners. Comput Hum Behav. 2010;26(5):916-26.

Bolhari J, RamezanZadeh F, Abedininia N, Naghizadeh MM, Pahlavani H, Saberi M. The survey of Divorce Incidence in Divorce Applicants in Tehran. J Fam Reprod Health. 2012;6:129-37.

Vasudevan B, Geetha DM, Bhaskar A, Areekal B, Lucas A. Causes of Divorce: a Descriptive Study from Central Kerala. J Evol Med Dent Sci. 2015;4(20):3418-26.

Harrell-Bond B. Modern Marriage in Sierra Leone: A study of the Professional Group. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter; 2019.

Bradshaw J, Finch N. Overlaps in dimensions of poverty. J Soc Policy. 2003;32(4):513-25.

Chireshe E. Barriers to the utilisation of provisions of the Zimbabwean domestic violence act among abused Christian Women in Zimbabwe. J IntWomens Stud. 2015;16(2):259-73..

Clark S, Brauner‐Otto S. Divorce in sub-Saharan Africa: are unions becoming less stable? Popul Dev Rev. 2015;41(4):583-605.

Valenzuela D, Halpern JE. Katz. Social network sites, marriage well-being and divorce: Survey and state-level evidence from the United States. Comput Hum Behav. 2014;36(2):94-101.

Chowdhury A. Till recession do us part: booms, busts and divorce in the United States. Appl Econ Lett. 2013;20(3):255- 61.

DOI: 10.1080/13504851.2012.689104.

Bezuidenhout FJ. A reader on selected social issues. 5th ed. Pretoria: Van Schaik; 2017.

Komblum L. Child marriage in South Asia: realities, responses and the way forward. Bangkok: ICRW Publications; 2001.