dc.description.abstract |
Women play a crucial role in the economic development of their families and
communities but certain obstacles such as social-cultural factors, socio-demographic
factors, poverty, unemployment, low household income and societal discriminations
mostly in developing countries have hindered their effective participation in
community based micro-finance programs. The aim of the study was to investigate the
factors that influence women participation in community based microfinance
programs. The following objectives was achieved for the purpose of the study; to
examine the effects of socio-cultural and demographic factors on women participation
in community based microfinance programs , to determine the effects of socio-
demographic factors on women participation in community based microfinance
programs , to establish the effects of amount of savings on women participation in
community based microfinance programs and to assess the effects of satisfaction of
interest charges on women participation in community based microfinance programs
at Catholic Diocese of Eldoret. The study adopted descriptive survey research design.
For the purpose of this study, the study targeted the women within Catholic Diocese of
Eldoret; Savings and International Lending Communities. The target population
specifically comprised of the self-help groups and church organized groups. The
researcher targeted 280 respondents. The study used stratified sampling technique to
put the members in groups. After stratification, simple random sampling was used to
select the respondents. Simple random sampling was used to avoid biasness and to
enable every individual to participate in the study. The sample size comprised of 74
respondents. The study used primary data obtained through questionnaires with
selected respondents. The descriptive statistics that were used included frequencies
tables and percentages. The inferential statistics linear regression was also used to test
the hypothesis. The computer program, Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS)
version 18 for windows, was useful in coding the data that was collected. The data
collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study rejected this hypothesis
because the study findings indicated that there was a significant relationship (β = .645,
P = 0.002) between the Socio-cultural and demographic factors and the women
participation in community based microfinance programs while the study also rejected
this hypothesis because the study findings indicated that there was a significant
relationship (β = .713, P = 0.000) between the interest rates charged and women
participation in microfinance programs and finally the study accepted this hypothesis
because the study findings indicated that there was no significant relationship (β = .
095, P = 0.094) between the amount of savings and women participation in
microfinance programs. The study concluded that the social cultural and the
demographic factors affect women participation in micro-finance the most followed
by the interest rate charged while the amount of savings had a negative effect on
women participation. The study recommended effective training and creation of
awareness on the need for participation in micro finance programs by women with an
aim of raising literacy levels of the women with an aim of increasing the participation
level. The information from the study also formed basis for literature for other
researchers and academicians who are willing to carry out studies in the same field.
Next, the study was a starting point for further studies on women participation in
community based microfinance. |
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