Impact of Rapid Urbanization on Social Welfare, the case of Qurqura Dambi area Residents, in Bishoftu town, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Urbanization rates are high in developing countries like Ethiopia. Urban areas have become overpopulated due to migration from the countryside. The main objective of the study was to assess the impact of rapid urbanization on the social welfare of the residents of the Qurqura Dambi area of Bishoftu town. This study uses primary and secondary data collection tools; These include questionnaires surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and observations of primary and secondary sources of research used to generate from docu ments, journals, reports, books, internet sources, Published and unpublished documents, were reviewed for secondary data. Descriptive statistical analyzes were performed, and both proba bility and non-probability sampling techniques were used. The populations for the study pur poses were grouped into key informants, among people interviewed in the study area, a simple random sampling and purposive technique was used. To select target households in the study area according to the statistical formula of Bill Godden’s, (2004) a sample size of 260 sample respondents from all of the respondents' households was selected; Quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools were used. The main finding of the study is that the rate of impact of urbani zation, on social and physical growth in the study area of the residents of Qurqura Dambi in Bishoftu town. Thus, the results show that the study area of Bishoftu town suffers from many problems: limited access to employment and income opportunities, inadequate and insecure housing services, violent and unhealthy environments, and limited access to adequate basic services, challenge of housing problem, and population growth due to rural-urban migration and birth rates. Furthermore, respondents they noted that urbanization has also bring benefits such as job opportunities as well as expansion of basic services such as electricity, access to health, transportation, and educational services. The researcher recommends that the city ad ministration should provide a framework to manage migrants from rural-urban areas. On the other hand, it must provide the necessary services to society. The people of this city should pay attention to environmental degradation, by plant and protect of trees to protect the environment for benefit of the society