Participation in domestic solid waste management with attitude as mediating factor among radio listeners in Dar Es Salam city, Tanzania

Abstract

The issue of domestic solid waste management (DSWM) is a major concern in almost all municipalities at local and global levels, but it is more serious in the developing countries. Many scholars have compiled about solid waste management process (generation, storage, collection, transfer, and disposal) and elaborated on how poor management affects human capital, national economy, as well as the reputation of the whole country. Proper management of DSW is very important for the protection of human health and the environment. This can be achieved through active participation of various stakeholders, especially for local people; where this current study argues that knowledge and education are essential factors to effective management of DSW. In view of a wide usage of radio in Tanzania, it should be an important medium to educate the local community about DSWM. As such, this study aims to examine factors influencing participation in DSWM among heads of households and radio listeners in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Specifically, it aims to identify the general uses of radio in Dar es Salaam city; to examine the extent of radio usage in obtaining DSWM information among heads of households in the city; to determine the levels of awareness, perception, attitude, and participation in DSWM among heads of households radio listeners in the City; to analyse the relationship between awareness, perception, attitude, and participation in DSWM in the Dar es Salaam city; and to test the mediating effect of attitude on the relationship between awareness and perception on participation in DSWM. This study was based on the Development Communication Theory (the DeveCom-Theory) in disseminating information regarding DSWM issues through radio programmes. This study employed a quantitative research design using a survey for data collection. A total of 392 heads of households from Temeke municipality participated in this study. The findings of this study found that radio plays a great role in Dar es Salaam city by offering several programmes from different sectors, for example religion, health, business, and environment. Majority of the respondents agreed that they listen to radio to obtain information concerning DSWM issues as well. In addition, the results showed positive and significant levels of radio usage, awareness, perception, attitude, and participation in DSWM. Participation in DSWM was highly rated compared to radio usage, awareness, perception, and attitude. Apart from that, the findings revealed a positive relationship existed among all variables. Furthermore, attitude was found to fully mediate the relationship between awareness and participation in DSWM and attitude also was able to partially mediate the relationship between perception and participation. Finally, the study results support the positive aspects of the theory that the more frequent households listen to DSWM programmes, their level of understanding, perception and attitude towards the issues will also increase. In turn, this will influence individual’s participation in DSWM. This study recommends that future studies should apply mixed method approach to give a clear picture of what is happening around DSWM context site Also, it will help to enrich the information and results of the future studies.