Determinant of women participation in self-help groups in Makuey Woreda, Gambella region, Ethiopia

Bibliographic Data

ID24021576
AuthorsChuol Bor (0000-0003-1645-0551, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, corresponding author), Kayier Guin (0009-0009-5792-6430, Ospedale degli Infermi), Duol Khon Liach (0009-0001-7598-2817), Duol Khon (Ospedale degli Infermi), Chayot Gatdet (0000-0002-4301-8345, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Lam Jock (0009-0006-1729-9426, Ospedale degli Infermi)
Year2026
Volume4
Issue1
Publication date2026-08-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDiscover Global Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2731-9687 • E-ISSN: 2731-9687
PublisherSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s44282-026-00509-0
OpenAlexW7172390954
LanguageEN
References cited44

In patriarchal societies, women experience heavy household responsibilities, less decision-making, and restricted access to credit and savings. Therefore, this study examines the determinants of women’s participation in self-help groups. In Makuey Woreda, Puokuath and Adura Kebelles were selected purposively, and households were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. This study utilized household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations for data collection. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square, and t-test to assess the existing women’s self-help groups and the level of their participation, and a binary logit model to determine the factors influencing women’s participation in self-help groups. Existing practices showed that savings and credit activities accounted for 44.1%, income-generating activities for 33.0%, participation in mutual support and social welfare activities for 15.2%, and training and capacity-building activities for only 7.6% of the total respondents. The binary logit model revealed that employment status (OR = 2.05), household size (OR = 1.55), and length of self-help group membership (OR = 1.50) were statistically significant and positively influenced women’s participation in self-help groups. Education level (OR = 0.56) was statistically significant and negatively influenced women’s participation in self-help groups. Distance to self-help group meetings (OR = 0.69) was statistically significant and negatively influenced women’s participation in self-help groups. Women’s participation can be improved by strengthening access through decentralized meeting places, flexible meeting schedules, and targeted outreach, while increasing income-generating activities for unemployed women and larger household sizes. Tailored strategies for more educated women and investment in sustained training and capacity-building schemes should strengthen long-term membership and inclusiveness.

Binary logit model · Investment (military) · Logistic regression · Logit · Multistage sampling · Systematic sampling · Welfare · Microfinance and Financial Inclusion · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Social Work Education and Practice

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