Table 5.

Explanations for differences in the rural and urban population structures

Differences in population structures	Suggested explanations (based on this study) for the difference
The relatively low proportion of girls and particularly boys aged 5-15 in the urban population*	Less rural-urban migration of children who are old enough to remain in the rural areas with other family members while the mother and/or father move. Schooling and day-to-day living in rural areas is much cheaper than in town and family members can provide a stable, disciplined home environment for children. Some parents believe urban life can lead to the distraction and misbehaviour of children. Girls aged 10-15 years are more likely than boys of that age to finish/be removed from school and be sent to urban areas to assist relatives in housework and/or child care. Return urban-rural migration of wives once they have given birth to one or more child(ren). In rural areas they look after the children and assist in the management of the household shamba (farm). Rural-urban migration of single/childless women in search of work.
The relatively high male:female ratio for those aged 20-35 in the urban population	Rural-urban migration of single and married men in search of employment after completing schooling. Wives may be left to manage the farm and (where applicable) look after children in their husband’s own or his parent’s farm. Rents are relatively low in the urban study area and it is within easy reach of the city centre. It is therefore an attractive area to be based while men are working or in search of work. Return urban-rural migration of men aged 30-60 to live with their wives, children and - often - members of their natal homestead.
The relatively high proportion of women aged 20-30 in the urban population	Rural-urban migration of single women in search of employment/starting a business, albeit in fewer numbers than men. The rural-urban migration of wives to stay with husbands (and in some cases assist a husband in earning an income for the household). Return migration to give birth, to care for their children when they are old enough to attend school and/or to maintain their husbands’ or their husbands’ family’s farm.

^*Changes in fertility patterns following rural-urban migration and/or amongst lifelong urban residents may also play a role but it is beyond the scope of this study to explore this issue.