Economic Factors Determining Poverty Levels among Women in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Women roles within the society have remarkable impacts on poverty alleviation though they are susceptible to gender-based inequalities, uncompensated caregiving, and domestic duties. The specific objectives for the study were i) To Examine the gender wage gap among women ii) To determine source of income (Income generating activities among women iii) Examine the household expenditure patterns and iv) Assess economic status of women that makes them prone to poverty. Classical theory of poverty was used with explanatory research design. Structured questionnaires were administered to women aged 18 –60 to sample size of 397 with response rate of 95.72%. Qualitative and Quantitative data was analyzed and non-numerical data was captures in narration and tables. The study hypotheses were tested at 0.05 significance level and found a negative and insignificant relationship between poverty and education, while positive and significant effect associated with household size, employment, Income size housing types, water sources. The study also revealed that poverty level is significantly associated with source income, income level, mode of saving, credit/convenient loan (β =11.783, ρ value =0.019). Poverty level is also statistically significant associated with adequate expenditure amount which includes expenditure spent on education, food and beverages, daily needs, water. For the economic status of women, there was statistically significant association between poverty and economic empowerment. This includes decision making in household, progressing in life, saving loan for emergency and current knowledge, skill, resource economically In conclusion, Langas region encountered challenges that determines poverty.