CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF FIRST MARITAL DISSOLUTION: A CASE STUDY OF JIDDA WOREDA IN NORTH SHEWA ZONE OROMIYA REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

Although marital dissolution has become an important subject of population studies, sociology, demographic and psychological research in Ethiopia, there are few researches done in Ethiopia in general and no research conducted in the Jidda woreda in particular. The main objective of this study was to assess the causes and consequence of first marital dissolution in Jidda woreda. The study has employed quantitative and qualitative data types from primary and secondary data sources. The Questionnaire was administered to 106 divorced informants. Also, the study used the experiences of divorcees from their own point of view by using the qualitative in-depth interview method with the combination of Focus Group Discussion (FGD) as well as key informant interviews. In case of the sampling method, simple random sampling was used to select 7(seven) sampling kebeles in the woreda, while 106 targeted divorcees were selected by purposive sampling. In the last five years (2013-2017) petition provided (657) for divorce and divorced (220) spouses data has been used as a point of observation. Result of study indicate that, causes of first marital dissolution includes financial problem, crime, argument on benefit sharing, migration for pursue of money, marriage without introduction, infidelity, dishonoring together, apprehend bad conduct, interference of external bodies and neglect community value are the main issues. Actually, 69.45% of the respondents have been agreed and 12.54% have been disagreed with factor reason for union dissolution. Also, marital dissolution has immense impact on the individual who have undergone through the divorce process that leads them to face various complexities such as pressure on remarriage, exposed to the sexually transmitted disease, isolated from social value, depression, unpleasant relationship and exposed to unsafe expenditure. Meanwhile, 73% and 25.7% of respondents have been agreed and disagreed respectively. Also, the occurrence of divorce is distracting the existed good relationships with the family, mental and health of children, and traditional values of the society. Therefore, the study has recommended that marital dissolution is not the best alternative for a couple by simple issue. Also, individual, religious leader, traditional mediators, social workers, government and Nongovernment organization have to commit and contributed to solve the problem.