POPULATION GROWTH AND LIVELIHOODS OF URBAN POOR WOMEN IN NORTHERN CITY DIVISION OF MBALE CITY

Abstract

Livelihoods of Urban poor women are facing a serious threat from the ever growing population unless if strong and focused strategies are implemented. The major object of this research study was to investigate the effect of population growth on the livelihood of Urban poor women in Northern City Division of Mbale City. Specifically the study investigated the causes of population growth and how population growth has affected livelihoods of Urban poor women in Northern City Division of Mbale City. The study also examined interventions that can be adopted to reduce population growth and improve on rural women’s livelihoods in Northern City Division of Mbale City. The study used cross-sectional design to analyze data from the study area with the help of both qualitative and quantitative methods. The researcher collected data from 80 respondents in the study area who were selected using simple random and purpose sampling and questionnaires together with interview guide were used to collect data from study subjects. The study found that high fertility of the population contributes to increase in population numbers. Other causes of population growth found by the study are existence of high life expectancy, religious switching and migration of the population. Further, the findings show that the most damaging impact of increasing population on livelihood has been escalated competition for land and depletes water resources hampering fishing livelihoods while those settling on top of mountains are blamed for occurrence of basically natural disasters like landslides and flooding that have destroyed that have destroyed crop gardens and pastoral livelihoods of many rural women. The study recommended improving livelihoods of Urban poor women is crucial and much desired in the areas of developing sustainable livelihoods frameworks to increase resilience and adoptability of rural livelihoods to environmental changes and related effects. Other recommendations included mapping population hotspots for emergency relief and development assistance may in the meantime offset pressure on livelihoods as well as reduce greenhouse effect through scaling down greenhouse gas emissions for better and productive livelihoods.