Situational analysis of women empowerment in urban field practice area of Dr. M. K. Shah Medical College and Research Center, Ahmedabad

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Women empowerment in society and family are closely linked to decision-making. Empowerment of women is essentially the process of upliftment of economic, social, and political status of women, the traditionally underprivileged ones, in society. It involves the building up of a society wherein women can breathe without the fear of oppression, exploitation, apprehension, discrimination, and the general feeling of persecution which goes with being a woman in a traditionally male dominated society. The present study was conducted to assess women’s empowerment status and factors affecting it. Material and Method: Community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 175 women residing in urban field practice area of Dr. M. K. Shah Medical College and Research Centre, Ahmedabad. A pre-designed questionnaire was used for data collection by interviewing the women through house to house survey. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Result: Around 85.71% of women were involved in decisions regarding trivial issues. A total of 17.72% of the women reported that they had suffered some form of domestic violence in their life. Around 23% of the women were not involved in any financial decisions of the family. Association between education of the women and involvement in decision-making was found statistically significant. Employment increases the participation of women in financial decision-making. 88.89% of employed women participated in financial decisions, while 71.42% of housewives were participating in these decisions. Conclusion: Education and employment were found to have impact on decision-making. So, education of girls should be given the priority.