 Subjects -> SOCIAL SERVICES AND WELFARE (Total: 224 journals)
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- Unpacking Urban Environmental Visions and Contestations of Street Vendors
in Kolkata, West Bengal-
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Abstract: Abstract Street vendors, more popularly known as “hawkers” in South Asia, constitute a visible part of the urban informal population in India and often settle down for sale in public spaces like city streets, sidewalks, and overpasses. This, however, comes into conflict with the “environmental” visions of middle-class citizens who desire to live in a world class city that is spectacular, hygienic, and centered around bourgeois aesthetics. As a result, street vendors are routinely targeted, dispossessed, and evicted. This is partly due to a vision of city planning and beautification, which considers entry points to urban informal economies as illegitimate and problematic. Moreover, the state perceives street vending spaces in the city as antithetical to the making of a world class city. In this paper, we examine the urban environment as a socio-political category where street-based livelihood activities, despite being popularly seen as a “city hazard” formatively proliferate through powerfully shaped strategies of politics and governmentality. This work conceptualizes public spaces as part of the urban environment. It proposes the idea of city streets as an “urban resource” which a multitude of actors struggle to control and access. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Kolkata, we reveal how street vendors have been able to contest class animated visions of the city through innovative political strategies and effective mobilization, overcoming the common narrative of street vending as a marginalizing practice. The findings prompt us to ask how urban environmental movements and aligned spatial frictions forge important questions on informal organizations and the political unionization of labor in the city of Kolkata.
PubDate: 2023-12-01
- Female Water Fetchers: Analyzing the Role of Women in Collecting Drinking
Water in India-
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Abstract: Background and Objective In 2011, nearly half of the households in India had not accessed drinking water sources in their household premises. In this context, the question arises: who is playing an important role (a male or female household member) in fetching drinking water in those households where the availability of drinking water is inadequate' Is there any gender difference in this practice' Against this backdrop, the study aims to outline the proportion of households from various sociodemographic, economic, and regional backgrounds where women are playing the main role of collecting water. The study also focuses on identifying the backgrounds determining the role of women as household water collectors in India. Methodology We used the 69th round of NSS (National Sample Survey 2012) data for this study. We employed the chi-square test to access the heterogeneity in the proportion of households where women are responsible for water collection among different sociodemographic, community-level, and regional backgrounds. Besides, we used a binary logistic regression model to outline the impact of different backgrounds on women’s responsibility for collecting drinking water in India. Results The results showed women fetch drinking water in more than 80% of the households that did not have drinking water sources within their premises. We outlined the significant role of social groups, the education level of male household members, the principal occupation of the households, the distance to the drinking water sources, the household head’s gender, land ownership, and place of residence as the determinants of this responsibility of women in India. Conclusion We propose constructing the necessary infrastructure to ensure that everyone has access to safe drinking water. This will not only reduce the issues of the water crisis (SDG 06) and the enormous burden in Indian women (SDG 5).
PubDate: 2023-12-01
- Intimate Partner Violence in (Un)-Romantic Relations: Its Spatial
Dimensions in the Indian Context-
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Abstract: Abstract Partner abuse is a significant contributor to total crimes in India. Atrocities against women in conjugal relations form the core of intimate partner violence (IPV). The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows spike in the number of cases reported from 4.8% in 2001 to 20.5% 2021 under cruelty against women by their spouses. This apparently means a dismal situation, but it also implies that reporting of intimate atrocities to the law keepers to address the issue have augmented in some cases whereas reporting is a constraint otherwise; and thus, the situation demands a deliberation from social research perspective. Romantic spaces dwelled by couples are apparently meant to be the spaces of affection, love, and safety. But under certain circumstances these turn out to be spaces of violence and abuse. This work explores the spatial variation of victimization of women in intimate romantic spaces in States of India. The study is based on secondary data procured from National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5, 2019–2021. Quantitative methods applied in the study include determining the spatial variation of the IPV victimization in the States of India have been represented using Standard Score and framing a violence index. Various narratives collected from social media and other gender-based academic literature have been addressed in order to establish the subjective perception of the victims to their victimization and responses to the same.
PubDate: 2023-12-01
- Monitoring the Past and Future Trends of Urban Thermal Comfort Conditions
Through a New Methodology-
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Abstract: Abstract Human thermal comfort representing the satisfaction of mind with ambient air conditions has significant effects on socioeconomic activities. Climate change is affecting thermal comfort conditions (TCCs) negatively. Therefore, it is important to estimate their past and future trends to take accurate measures for mitigation and adaptation efforts in especially urban areas. However, it is difficult to calculate TCCs for the future since they are the combined effect of several meteorological parameters on a person outdoor together with her/his own physiological characteristics, which must be evaluated individually. This study is aimed at determining the TCCs trends in the past compared to the present whilst estimating the future conditions using a new methodology in the case of Kayseri city in the Interior Anatolia Region of Turkey. As the result of the study, all the change trends considering temporal and spatial results show that thermal comfort conditions signal warmer and higher heat stress in the past and future trends. This means human thermal sensation ranges (e.g., very cold) have replaced with the next warmer range, and their spatial distribution in percentage has also changed towards warmer. Increase in the prevalence of unfavourable thermal comfort conditions causes the decrease in the liveability indicators in especially urban areas, including serious economic loses based on energy consumption, health care expenses, and efficiency of activities. It is required that both past and expected future trends be considered in the planning and design works to make cities resilient and have higher adaptive capacity to climate change.
PubDate: 2023-12-01
- Spatial Inequality of Social Development—a Case Study in Paschim
Medinipur District, West Bengal, India-
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Abstract: Abstract In this study, a composite index is developed to evaluate the variation in human development across the sub-divisional blocks. The social development index (SDI) of the Paschim Medinipur district has been calculated and premeditated based on eight fundamental indices, including literacy, female literacy, school availability, the status of safe drinking water, the availability of electrified mosques, the availability of hospital beds, worker status, and urbanisation status, using a methodology developed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). To evaluate the social development index in the Paschim Medinipur district, ordinary least regression (OLR) analysis was performed. To determine how closely the SDI variables are related to one another, a cross-correlation matrix is computed. A well-developed SDI is made up of the Garhbeta-III block. This area of the block has a higher percentage of schools, drinkable water, electricity, and literacy levels. An adjusted R-squared score of 0.947 indicates that the estimated model’s explanatory factors account for around 94% of the variation in the dependent variable. In this regard, the social development index (HDI) value, geographical demarcation, and spatial layout of the blocks provide a comprehensive view of the social development of the blocks in the Paschim Medinipur district.
PubDate: 2023-12-01
- Gender Parity in Urbanizing City: A Case Study of Barasat City, India
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Abstract: Abstract For sustainable urbanization, promoting equal value for men and women is indispensable. Although an urban environment provides women greater admittance to education, health and well-being, jobs, services, and infrastructure, compared to women living in rural areas, there are still disparities in access and opportunities for women within a city. The study emphasizes adopting a comprehensive and intersectional approach to assess the spatial variation of gender equality, which takes into account the multidimensional nature of gender-driven disparities and the effect of unplanned urbanization by integrating geoinformatics with geostatistics. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to create a composite index of gender parity that covers multiple dimensions of gender parity, i.e., health parity, social parity, economic parity, education parity, and empowerment parity. The use of the local indicator of spatial association statistics has conclusively demonstrated the capability of identifying specific clusters of greater gender parity and outliers. The built-up area has been estimated by remote sensing technique, and the percentage of built-up has been used as the measure of the level of urbanization. The correlation allows the calculation of relationships among different dimensions of gender parity and built-up percentage. It has been found that the built-up strongly influences economic parity followed by health and educational parity. While correlating among the dimensions of gender parity, it has been observed that educational parity has the strongest impact on improving overall gender parity. By identifying spatial locations of poor gender parity and the key determinants of gender parity, policymakers can allocate resources and develop targeted interventions to address the specific needs of those areas. Additionally, incorporating gender parity considerations into urban planning can help ensure that urban development is more inclusive and responsive to the needs of women.
PubDate: 2023-12-01
- Prevalence and Determinants of Anaemia Among Under-Five Children in West
Bengal: An Insight from the National Family Health Survey 2015–2016-
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Abstract: Background and Objectives The prevalence of anaemia during childhood is a serious health problem and a major burden of disease in India. According to NFHS-4, in India, about 58.4% of children suffered from anaemia which hugely contributes to childhood illness, morbidity, and mortality. Therefore, estimating the level of anaemia during childhood, and the significant determinants of childhood anaemia at the sub-national level, is essential for the improvement of child health status in India. The main aim of the study is to determine blood haemoglobin levels, the prevalence of anaemia among children from different socio-demographic groups and geographic regions, and the significant drivers in West Bengal. Methods We used NFHS-4 data for this analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Z-test were used to examine the variation in blood haemoglobin level among children from different backgrounds. Chi-square and multinomial logistic regression were used to outline significant heterogeneity in the prevalence of anaemia across different categories of background variables and to identify significant determinants of the prevalence of anaemia during childhood in West Bengal, respectively. Results The study significantly identified a higher prevalence of any kind of anaemia among the children in the early age group, living with 20–29-year-old, thin, anaemic mothers, belonging to urban areas, lower economic groups, and live in the northern part of West Bengal. Besides, a higher chance of moderate or severe anaemia was noticed among smaller-sized births and the Scheduled Tribe community. Conclusions Policymakers must consider the major driving factors of childhood anaemia to frame adequate strategies for eliminating anaemia. The study suggests more initiatives and investments for supplying adequate nutrition and quality health and medical care to the early-aged children, undernourished mothers (thin, anaemic), ST community, and poor families in the study area. This initiative may help improve child health (Sustainable Development Goal 03) and reduce inequality (SDG 10) in health status across various socio-demographic, economic groups, and regions within the state.
PubDate: 2023-12-01
- Governance of Urban Infrastructure in India: Exploring the Approaches,
Attributes, and Opportunities Towards Sustainability-
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Abstract: Abstract Of late, infrastructural issues have become the prime concern of urban governance in India. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), which are constitutionally responsible for grass-root-level governance, do not have the sufficient financial independence to govern infrastructure comprehensively. Thus, a supply-demand anomaly is always evident. In the prevailing federal structure, the strategic framework of institutional devolution is incapable of satisfying the citizen’s demands. By applying inductive logic and identifying the attributes, roles, and responsibilities of urban infrastructure governance actors, this paper investigates the theoretical and normative trajectory. Accordingly, a wide range of literature was consulted and empirically evaluated in the existing framework of governance. Shedding some light on the global scenario of urban infrastructure governance, this study emphasises bridging the state, private, and individual gap. Though the central government is expected to set up the strategic framework, state and local governments will act on the field towards engineering an environment to promote pro-citizen governance towards sustainability.
PubDate: 2023-12-01
- Social Inequality in the Context of Gender: a Study of Rural West Bengal,
India-
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Abstract: Abstract Recent poor ranking of India in the Gender Inequality Index highlights the reality of gender-based discrimination. The article addressed social issues regarding women’s agency, social status, and empowerment by examining negative externalities like intra-household intersectionality and inequalities in rural West Bengal. The authors emphasized the role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 5 and 8) in uplifting the social status of women. A household-level survey was conducted with a semi-structured survey schedule of 200 respondents and seven Focused Group Discussions (FGD) from 70 participants to unravel the ground reality related to education, income, employment, and domestic violence. We have highlighted the difficulties faced by women in their daily lives. The study enumerates the findings based on mixed methods. The qualitative analysis results give comprehensive information that aids in explaining the causal linkages figured out in the quantitative study. The result shows that low education standard is one of the parameters for underdevelopment as it limits the scope of livelihood. Intrahousehold intersectionality restricted girls and women from getting equal opportunities in education, food, and social services in the locality. Though women contribute almost equally on financial grounds, they are humiliated daily. This research advocates for the required infrastructure and legal and social backing to women, which helps them build integrated, productive employment and decent workforce participation. They promote sustainable economic growth in rural settings to improve women’s living standards.
PubDate: 2023-11-27
- Infrastructure Development and Subjective Well-being in Africa: Linkages
and Pathways-
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Abstract: Abstract Unlike previous studies which focused on the economic effects of infrastructures, this paper contributes to the literature by analysing the contribution of infrastructure development to well-being, considered the aim of all efforts. The paper uses composite infrastructure indexes from the African Development Bank, to capture infrastructure quality and the life ladder index as proxy for subjective well-being on a sample of 29 African countries during the 2007–2018 period. Estimates are done using panel corrected standard errors, Tobit regression, and the generalised method of moments. Results show that infrastructure development boosts the well-being of Africans. Further analysis at the disaggregated level shows that information and communication technology (ICT) and electricity are the main drivers of happiness in the region. After testing for possible mediators, human capital is found to be the main channel through which infrastructure development enhance subjective well-being in Africa. Therefore, policies aiming to promote the well-being of Africans should consider investments in infrastructure development, especially ICT, electricity, transport, water supply, and sanitation services. This would in turn improve the performance of institutions and human capital, contributing to the well-being of Africans.
PubDate: 2023-11-10
- Health Insurance as a Tool for Selecting Private Hospitalization and
Mitigating Financial Burden in India: An Analysis of National Sample
Survey Data-
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Abstract: Abstract This study aims to investigate the association between having health insurance and the choice of hospitalization (public or private) and examine the crucial factors influencing this decision. Furthermore, this study also explores the role of health insurance in mitigating the economic burden. This study uses nationally representative data (India) on morbidity and health care from the 75th (2017–2018) round of the National Sample Survey. Descriptive statistics, tobit regression, and logistic regression analysis are performed. The results indicate that out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) is generally higher among individuals who receive treatment at private hospitals (₹29,896), are aged 80 years or above (₹27,993), belong to the richer socio-economic strata (₹22,377), reside in urban areas (₹23,135), and have non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (₹29,770). The enrolment of private or government health insurance does not impact the duration of hospitalization. The logistic regression results indicate that having private (odds: 0.35, CI: 0.32–0.40) and government (odds: 0.74, CI: 0.70–0.78) health insurance has a negative association with catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). Private health insurance led to a nearly 3.8-fold increase in the likelihood of opting for private hospitalization compared to individuals without insurance. However, private hospitalization was accompanied by 8.5 times higher CHE than government hospitalization. The early detection and treatment initiation could be delivered through the Primary Health Center (PHC). India has a vast network of PHCs, and the PHCs should be upgraded adequately with diagnostic and treatment facilities to detect and treat chronic conditions to help reduce the private hospitalization and duration of hospitalization, which will help to reduce the economic burden.
PubDate: 2023-10-18
- The Role of Maternal Care Services on Feeding Practices Among Under Five
Children in India, Nepal and Bangladesh-
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Abstract: Background In South Asia, one in two children under the age of five are stunted or wasted due to malnutrition, which affects one in three children globally. There are close linkages between maternal health care services and child feeding practices which needs to be investigated. Materials and Method The present study analyzed two rounds of Demographic Health Surveys cross-sectional data carried out between year 2005 and 2016 in three selected South Asian countries viz. India, Nepal, and Bangladesh respectively. This study is based on children under 5 years of age which are nested within mothers aged 15–49 years. Inferential statistical analysis like Chi-square was used to test the association, and regression model was used to analyze the effect of mother’s Maternal and Child Health care services utilization on the child’s feeding score after controlling for socio-economic and demographic factors. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of utilization of maternal care services on child feeding practices in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Results Our result shows that mother's secondary or higher level of education, more than four-antenatal care visits, and deliverying in a health facility was associated with a higher chance of child feeding practices. Multivariate linear regression revealed that education, antenatal care visits, and postnatal care visits had positive and significant effect on child feeding, while mothers who were 15–19 years of age were less likely to feed child. The results from this analysis imply that there are various regional and national influences on the determination of mothers’ practices on child feeding. Furthermore, there are other factors that indicate that mother’s practices are influenced by situational and time factors. Conclusion Overall, with multiple maternal and child health care contacts with the health system, there is an opportunity to promote child feeding practices. The study results are critical and emphasises the need for making strategies and policies for better nutritional outcome and child feeding practices. Disadvantaged women in terms of education, antenatal care, birth at a health institution, and postnatal visits must be targeted to improve child feeding practices.
PubDate: 2023-10-18
- Water Insecurity Associated with Gender-Based Sexual and Physical Abuse
Experiences, in Tshumbe District, Sankuru Province, in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo: a Cross-sectional Study-
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Abstract: Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the association between the water insecurity with physical, sexual, and emotional abuses among teenage and adult girls aged 16–27 years old from rural communities, in Sankuru Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2022 at rural communities of Djuwola and Yangi, in Sankuru Province. Multi-stage random sampling methods were used to select and enroll 277 study participants. A modified French translation of a NorVold Abuse Questionnaire (NorAQ) was anonymously administered to all participants. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the association between water insecurity and the risk of gender-based violence against women. Results Respondents with high school level education presented less risk of severe, aOR 0.31 (0.13; 0.69), sexual abuse. Respondents aged 19–21 years old presented four times, aOR 4.04 (2.06; 7.94), and three times, aOR 3.18 (1.61; 6.29) the risk of being victims of moderate and severe sexual abuses, respectively. A significant association was found between living at more than 30 min of walking distance to the water collection points and moderate, aOR 2.71 (1.51; 4.96), physical abuse and for moderate sexual abuse, aOR 2.25 (1.13; 4.45). Conclusions Our study found that sexual and physical abuses are related to the age and education level of female respondents. Critically, a long distance from dwelling to water collection points is associated with greater degree of physical and sexual abuses. Improved sanitation systems increased women’s access to education and economic resources, and integrated violence prevention into existing programs could help to prevent different abuses.
PubDate: 2023-10-16
- The Impact of Village Saving Loan Association on Small Holder Farmers in
Taiama, Kori Chiefdom, Moyamba District-
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Abstract: Abstract Governments and nongovernmental organizations have made poverty reduction a top priority. This has resulted in the implementation of programs and projects aimed at reducing poverty levels. To supplement the government’s efforts to combat poverty among smallholder farmers, farmer’s groups are adopting the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) model, which is aimed at promoting access to agricultural activities and money to the rural poor as a means of reducing poverty. This study was conducted in Taiama, Kori Chiefdom, Moyamba District to examine the effects of village saving loan associations on smallholder farmers. This was accomplished through questionnaire interviews with 100 VLSA participants. According to the study’s findings, women are more active in the saving category. Seventy-five percent of respondents are married, and those between the ages of 41 and 45 are more engaged in VSLA. The study also showed that there was an increase in agricultural operations, which increased the availability of nutrient-rich food and an increase in the chance for family members to pursue higher education through loans or profit-sharing from the VSLA. It can be concluded that VSLA can be utilized as a method to significantly reduce poverty among smallholder farmers in Taiama and to replicate the concept in other farming areas.
PubDate: 2023-10-16
- Association Between Socio-Demographic Factors and Perceived Social Support
Among Elderly in Siwan District, Bihar, India-
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Abstract: Background The subjective perception and assessment of support originating from family, friends, and significant others are reflected in perceived social support, which refers to the perceived availability and adequacy of social connections. The purpose of this study was to investigate perceived levels of social support and to ascertain the link between perceived social support and the socio-demographic factors that influence it. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study used a sample of 476 elderly people in Siwan district, Bihar, India, who were 60 years of age or older. A structured questionnaire with a multistage sampling procedure was used to collect the data during the period 2021–2022. The 12-item multidimensional scale of perceived social support was used to measure the information regarding perceived social support. The association was examined using a bivariate statistical technique, and the impact of the explanatory variables on the outcome variable was examined using a multivariate statistical technique. Results Families provided the most social support for the respondents, while significant others provided the least. The findings demonstrated a strong statistically significant association between age, types of house, social caste, and wealth status and perceived social support. Multiple linear regression results showed that that ages 70–79 years (β = − 1.74, 95% CI (− 3.05, − 0.44), p ≤ 0.01), other backword class (β = 2.24, 95% CI (0.58, 3.90), p ≤ 0.01), general category (β = 2.08, 95% CI (0.08, 4.07), p ≤ 0.05), and medium wealth status (β = 3.25, 95% CI (1.85, 4.65), p ≤ 0.001), and rich wealth status (β = 2.05, 95% CI (0.30, 3.80), p ≤ 0.05) had a statistically significant effect on perceived social support among elderly. Conclusion The study’s overall conclusion was that older people’s well-being can be improved by providing them more social support, especially from family members other than themselves. As interpersonal risk rises, social support should be bolstered to maximize their happiness. The State must update the policies and procedures in place to fullfil the complex physical, psychological, and emotional needs of the aging population.
PubDate: 2023-10-14
- Cocoa Production and Incentives: Assessing the Relationship Between Cocoa
Purchasing Clerks and Farmers in Rural Ghana-
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Abstract: Abstract Not much is known about the role Cocoa Purchasing Clerks (CPCs) play to sustain the cocoa production in rural areas in Ghana. Therefore, this study investigated the various roles the cocoa purchasing clerks play on their own or on behalf of the Licensed Buying Ccompanies (LBCs) towards cocoa farmer activities to sustain cocoa production. Using the purposive and snowball sampling methods, 18, comprising of 16 from cocoa farm households and 2 purchasing clerks, were interviewed in the East Akim Municipality, a popular rural cocoa-growing area in Ghana. The analysis broadly centres on the dynamics of the relationship between the LBCs and farmers and the challenges that accompanied it. The themes generated under the relationship were sticking to LBCs on convenience and reliability, sticking to LBCs on the basis of strong family and generational ties, agreements between farmers and LBCs, and benefits and opportunities in the incentivisation relationship. Those generated under the challenges were delays in payment to farmers by CPCs and suspicion of the use of dishonest scales by CPCs to buy cocoa beans. A better relationship will enhance cocoa productivity, but the challenges if not addressed could worsen the relationship. The study recommends the cocoa LBCs visit cocoa communities to ensure clerks give the farmers their expected bonuses. Also, purchasing clerks should provide essential farm inputs such as pesticides and fertilisers among others that would directly increase cocoa production rather than consumables. They should provide cocoa farmers credits (cash) to prefinance their farming activities during the off season of cocoa, to maintain their farms and enhance productivity. Finally, Ghana’s Cocoa Marketing Board should relook at the modalities of the relationship between LBCs and farmers to entrench mutual benefits.
PubDate: 2023-10-13
- Social Assistance as a Livelihood Strategy Among the Working Poor: A Case
Study from Türkiye-
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Abstract: Abstract The present qualitative study attempted to elicit the working poor’s views on the social assistance system in Türkiye. We held in-depth interviews with 30 conveniently selected participants between March and June 2022 in Ankara and analyzed the findings descriptively. Accordingly, the results highlighted the working poor’s experiences with the social assistance system, the role of this system in their employment, and their expectations of the system. In a nutshell, our findings implied that the working poor should be granted minimum income support to improve the efficiency of the Turkish social assistance system further in combating in-work poverty.
PubDate: 2023-10-12
- Determinants of Financial Inclusion of Female Entrepreneurs in Somalia
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Abstract: Abstract Financial inclusion plays a crucial role in fostering business growth by facilitating the accumulation of capital and enabling access to investment opportunities for businesses over a period of time. This study aims to examine the financial inclusion of female entrepreneurs in Somalia. The determinants considered in this study are age, education, business longevity, the form of the business, and the type of the business. A cross-sectional research design was employed in this study to gather data from a sample of 385 female entrepreneurs situated in key urban centers within Somalia. The data collection process involved the administration of a structured questionnaire. Probit regression models were applied for analysis, and the study presents the marginal effect of each individual observation. According to the findings of this study, among the 385 female entrepreneurs surveyed, a notable proportion of 86% reported having a bank account. Additionally, approximately 59% of the participants stated that they saved money in a bank account. However, a relatively smaller percentage of 19% indicated they had received bank loans. Additionally, the study revealed that female entrepreneurs over 30 years are 4% more likely to have a bank account than their younger counterparts. However, young entrepreneurs are 2% more likely to save money in a bank account and 12% more likely to obtain a loan from a bank. Furthermore, the findings of this study indicate that the level of education plays a significant role in determining female financial inclusion. Specifically, female entrepreneurs with a university degree are 1% more likely to have a bank account, 6% more likely to save money in a bank account, and 12% more likely to borrow from a bank compared to those who had only completed secondary school or had not received formal education. This study\s policy implications emphasize the importance of promoting gender-inclusive financial policies, strengthening financial infrastructure, and providing financial education and entrepreneurial skills to create an enabling environment that fosters female entrepreneurs’ financial inclusion and success in Somalia.
PubDate: 2023-10-04
- Preface/Introductory Letter
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PubDate: 2023-09-27
- Exploring the Impact of Self-Help Groups on Empowering Rural Women: an
Examination of the Moderating Role of Self-Help Group Membership Using
Structural Equation Modeling-
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Abstract: Abstract The purpose of this research is to create a statistical model that can predict how much rural women’s empowerment increases as a result of their involvement in SHGs. The study also aims to determine whether women participating in self-help groups has a moderating effect on women’s empowerment. Factor analysis and partial least square structural equation modeling are used to achieve this study’s objective. Multigroup analysis examines SHG membership as moderators. The present research used a purposive sampling strategy to collect data from 228 women who have actively participated and 221 women who have not actively part in SHG rural areas of eastern West Bengal. The present study utilized partial least square and structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine and evaluate a hypothesis concerning the correlation between the involvement of women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their empowerment. The results show that women’s empowerment is significantly affected by all four constructs of economic empowerment (β = 0.267, t = 4.706, p = 0.000), social empowerment (β = 0.105, t = 2.065, p = 0.0039), political empowerment (β = 0.147, t = 2.798, p = 0.005), and psychological empowerment (β = 0.156, t = 2.631, p = 0.009). The moderation effect of membership in SHGs is high in the case of economic and social empowerment of women. Women’s participation in SHGs is associated with increased economic activity and social empowerment; hence, both governments should conduct more awareness programs to encourage women to join SHGs.
PubDate: 2023-08-23
DOI: 10.1007/s40609-023-00308-4
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