CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IRREGULARMIGRATION OF YOUNG ADULTSFROM SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: THE CASE OF WEST BADAWCHO WORADA, HADIYA ZONE, SNNPR.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the causes and consequence of irregular migration of young adults from southern Ethiopia to the Republic of South Africa. The main objective of this study was assessing the socio-economic and demographic causes and consequences of irregular migration of young adults. The study was conducted in one randomly selected woreda from the SNNPR- Hadiya Zone West Badawacho woreda. Data was collected through questionnaire, key informant interviews, focused group discussions. The data were analyzed using description, bi variety and multi-variety statistical techniques. Logistic regression model was also employed in assessing the relationship between migration status and age, sex, marital status, education, employment, occupation and income, residence, birth order, ethnicity and religion. The findings of this study were the irregular migration to RSA was dominated by males (over 80%) and adults of age between 20-34 (57%). It was also found that the majority of migrants' residence is rural (73%) and 28% of the sampled migrants are first born child. Highest percentages of migrants (95%) were literate and this was dominated by those having seconder education. It was also found that the movement of young adults’ from southern Ethiopia to RSA was facilitated by a network of human smugglers found in Addis Ababa, Hossana, Dilla and Nairobi. The main cause for the irregular movement of adults was found to be poverty and perceived better opportunities in RSA. The multivariate analysis showed that sex, age, educations status and birth order having significant impact on the youth to migrate while household size, place of childhood residence.