The Effectiveness of Traditional Methods in Reducing Violence against Children among Children in Tanzania: A Case of Traditional Knowledge in Urban Tanzania

Abstract

The effectiveness of traditional methods in reducing Violence against children is expected to reduce the violence among children rather than imposing the new modern methods which require skills and knowledge to implement it. Children are expected to take a leading role in using the traditional methods including socio-cultural that involves family responsibility to a child since childhood and the part of socialization process and reproduction as a primary education that enables children to first learn from their parent as their role model of their social life throughout their life. The study mainly focused in Dare es Salaam region where most of the modern techniques has been used for a long time and most parent have access towards these methods and that Dar es Salaam is among the urban city that have adapted the modern methods in caring and supporting the children. Dar es Salaam is a modest area for distinguished behavior including theft, early pregnancy, burglary that children can copy from their parents, relatives or work together with the community members whose behavior are not accepted within the community. This study collected qualitative data from 15 informants through in-depth information and drew its conclusion basing on the Feminist theory.  The findings revealed that socio-cultural methods, family as a tool for socialization and reproduction as a primary education to children were the major methods that were used in controlling some of the children at family level. The methods were introduced to help children adjust their behavior before being presented to police station where Gender Desk located. In addition, sexual relation as a means of controlling behavior and economic cooperation between husband and wife were used on specific issues that needed remedy for children to avoid shame within a society. It was found that abuse and any other kind of violence against children were handled by family members together with the community at the earliest stage of the life of the children. The study noted that the violence against children was controlled when the behavior was at its tender age thus children were able to grow with it until when they are old enough to control the behavior and the violence on their own. Therefore, this study recommends that

In this vein, the study recommends that, but not limited to, the need for the effective holistic social approach that will change the community measure for control violence against children in Tanzania. Initiation ceremonies must be re-introduced and used simultaneously with the modern methods of controlling children behaviors. With this our community will be able to follow and have discipline starting from the family levels to community levels to enable fast decision in controlling violence against children in Tanzania.