Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of family Strategies in addressing violence against children in Iringa Municipality Tanzania. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approach with Cross-Section Research Design. The sample consisted of 60 participants who were selected by using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. The data were collected using questionnaire, interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using Statistical Product for Social Solutions (SPSS) version 25 and thematic analysis respectively. The descriptive analysis involved calculation of percentages and frequencies. The findings of the study were presented using tables in which frequencies and percentages were utilized whereas content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data in accordance to the study objectives. The results shows provision of children needs, supporting children who are reporting violence cases, awareness creation on the violence prevention strategies, positive relationship between parents and children, freedom of reporting on violence cases, good communication between parents and children were the perception of the effectiveness of the family strategies in addressing children violence. The study concluded that there is no effective communication between parents and children hence the results demonstrate that parents don't talk openly with their children concerning child violence because it is not their tradition, the cultural barriers, lack of parental education, and the struggles against poverty. Moreover, the results show that 76.7 % of the children are not free to report violence that happened to them. The study further recommended that families in Iringa Municipality and Tanzania as a whole should make sure that parents talk openly with their children concerning child violence. Making child protection their priority, overcoming cultural barriers that affect child violence initiates, enhancing parental education, and struggling to overcome poverty, moreover, families should make sure that the children are free to report violence that happened to them.