Role of Gender Asset Ownership and Poverty in Determining Women Empowerment: A Village-based Study in South Punjab, Pakistan

This study investigates the determinants of women's empowerment in the agriculture sector of South Punjab, Pakistan, using a cross-sectional analysis. Specifically, the study aims to identify the socio-demographic and economic factors that promote or hinder women's empowerment in this sector, to inform policies and programs that can support gender equality in the region. To estimate the results, we are utilizing data from 900 households located in the Multan, Bahawalpur, and DG Khan divisions of South Punjab Province in Pakistan in 2022 while employing the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method for analysis. The study also explored the impact of empowerment on women's socio-demographics, economic status, and well-being. The study found that women's empowerment in South Punjab is influenced by a range of factors, including age, marital status, education, income, poverty, and asset ownership prevalence. The study focuses on improving women's education, income, and access to credit, as these factors are found to positively impact women's empowerment in the agriculture sector of South Punjab, Pakistan. Additionally, policies that promote women's participation in decision-making at the household and community levels can contribute to greater gender equality in the region

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Determinants of Poverty: Evidence from the Agriculture Sector in South Punjab, Pakistan

Purpose: This study investigates the factors contributing to poverty in South Punjab's agricultural region in Pakistan. By conducting a cross-sectional analysis, it examines how household characteristics, agricultural productivity, and socioeconomic factors impact poverty levels. The primary objective is to identify the root causes of poverty in the region, aiming to alleviate it and enhance the well-being of rural communities. The study serves as a valuable resource for policymakers seeking to address poverty in South Punjab's agricultural sector. Research Gap:The existing literature lacks comprehensive insights into factors such as asset ownership, women's empowerment, and various access to services variables in this specific regional context. Design/Methodology/Approach: We employed the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method to analyze data gathered from 900 households in South Punjab's Multan, Bahawalpur, and DG Khan divisions in 2022. The Main Findings: The study focused on three categories of independent variables: socio-demographic, economic, asset ownership, and women's empowerment determinants of poverty. Various factors were found to influence poverty in South Punjab, including age, marital status, dependency burden, distance from home to workplaces and healthcare facilities, access to safe drinking water and sanitation, employment status, education, asset ownership, and women's empowerment. The results indicate a positive association between age, dependency burden, distance from home to workplaces and healthcare facilities, and overall women's empowerment with poverty. Conversely, having a spouse, being widowed, and female asset ownership showed a negative association with poverty. Theoretical/Practical Implications of the Findings: This study provides essential insights into the underlying causes of poverty in South Punjab's agricultural sector, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders working towards poverty eradication in the region. Originality/Value: Unlike previous research focusing on limited determinants of poverty alleviation, our comprehensive analysis utilizes data from these divisions, offering a more thorough examination across varied variables

SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS OF CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION IN PAKISTAN

This study examines the impact of socio-economic determinants of childhood immunization in Pakistan. The study uses the data of PSLM 2014-15. Data of the children in the age group of 1 to 2 years is included in the study because at least one year is needed to be fully immunized. To explore the relationship between socioeconomic factors and childhood immunization, binary logistic regression is used. The results indicate that boys are preferred for childhood immunization as compared to girls in Pakistan. In this study, father education is found to be a significant variable on childhood immunization in Pakistan. Landholding by household shows a positive and significant effect on childhood immunization. Results of the study also reveal that childhood immunization is positively associated with a mother’s working status. Working women are more responsible than their non-working counterparts. Children living in Punjab are more likely to be immunized since Punjab province is relatively developed than other provinces of Pakistan. The distance from health facilities has a negative influence on child immunization. Children born in Govt. hospitals or private hospitals have a greater probability to be immunized. This study also explores province wise childhood immunization as the results tend to be significant. Children living in Punjab tend to have a higher probability to be immunized. &nbsp