Relationship between women demographic characteristics, household structure and socio-economic status in Morogoro district, Tanzania

Abstract

Factors responsible for poor household socio-economic status (hSES) vary in different
social groups. Little information exists to explain how demographic and household
characteristics are related to hSES in rural societies of Tanzania. This cross-sectional study
assessed associations between selected women’s demographic characteristics, household
structure and hSES in a rural area in Morogoro District, Tanzania. The study involved
542 women aged 15 to 49 years. Data were collected by face to face interviews using a
structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions. Principal Component Analysis was
used to construct hSES index. Women older than 35 years had higher likelihood of being
in the higher SES category compared to their younger counterparts [OR1.26 (95%CI:1.82-
2.94), p<0.05]. Living in road accessible ward was associated with being in the medium to
high hSES [OR4.08 (95%CI: 2.40-6.94), p<0.01]. Households with at least one child aged
less than 5 years were more likely to be in the low hSES [OR 0.34 (95%C: 1.033-2.502),
p< 0.05]. While road accessibility and age determined a better hSES, most factors were
not related to hSES. Our findings underscore the urgency for transportation infrastructural
improvement as a reliable means for improvement of rural hSES.