Participation in Social Group and Wellbeing Status of Rural Women in Oyo State

Abstract

This study examined the contribution of social group participation on the wellbeing of rural women in Oyo State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to obtain data from 170 rural women who are members of selected social groups. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study reveals that 79.0% were traders and 64.7% had secondary education. More than half (54.1%) had low level of social group participation. Benefits derived from social group participation were social control (= 1.65), access to credits and loans (=1.35), security of goods (=1.62) and invitation to social functions (=1.72). Financial constraint (=0.39), time (=0.64) and distance of the meeting venue (=0.45) were some of the factors that affect social group participation. Also, 50.6% of the respondents had low wellbeing status. There was a significant relationship between benefits derived (r = 0.225) from social group participation and wellbeing status of rural women. Based on these findings, this study has implications for the assessment of social groups in rural communities as they serve as strong platform for dissemination of social and agricultural information. This study therefore recommends that social groups should be well organised by engaging in activities that will improve the quality of life of rural women in all spheres so as to increase their involvement in group activities and rural development at large

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