Socioeconomic determinants of income among rural women in Enugu state, Nigeria: implication for achieving first sustainable development goal

Abstract

Poverty is a global challenge highly concentrated among rural women; thus, women are poorer than their male counterparts. This fact disposes them to a high level of food insecurity, low purchasing power and poor well-being. Understanding the socio-economic factors responsible for the income level of rural women is a prerequisite to boosting their economic status and, in turn, lowering the poverty rate among them. Therefore, this study describes the rural women income and identifies the factors influencing their level of income. Data were collected primarily from 120 rural women and analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The study reveals that rural women face a low annual income (USD 626.25) which could dispose them to a high poverty level. Agriculture (practised on a small scale) remains the primary source of income for rural women as it had the largest share (78.8%) of their annual income. Cooperative membership, access to credit facilities and education are the identified socio-economic factors enhancing the yearly income of rural women. At the same time, rural women age and their household size are the inhibiting factors affecting their annual income. To achieve the first Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations, there is a need to support rural women through financial assistance and adult education centres. This would enhance their productivity and income and improve their food security status and well-being.