Wallole Wanno, Alano Abraham, Endriyas Misganu
Head Office, South Ethiopia Region Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs, Jinka, Ethiopia.
School of Public Health, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Front Health Serv. 2024 Dec 4;4:1480784. doi: 10.3389/frhs.2024.1480784. eCollection 2024.
Women's empowerment is one of the fundamental issues for attaining sustainable development goals crossing multiple dimensions. In Ethiopia, Women's Development Network (WDN), a network of women, was established in 2010 with development aims. Ensuring women's empowerment critically needs collective efforts of platforms such as WDN. However, there was a paucity of information about the patterns of WDN functionalities, its contribution, and factors affecting its functionality in rural areas of Southern Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to explore WDN status and factors affecting their functionality in Southern Ethiopia.
The study employed an exploratory qualitative design. Data were collected from purposively selected zones using focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Audio-taped materials were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic approach. Initially, data were coded (open coding) and after several reviews, themes were developed and interpreted in line with the study objectives.
WDN has passed several steps from its establishment up to now. It was seen skeptically at its early inception, very good level of acceptance in the middle, and staggering currently. However, WDN has contributed to improvements in household welfare resulting from increased ability to afford food, clothing, health, and education. Specific to health, WDN has contributed to general awareness creation, maternal and child health utilization, and environmental sanitation. On the other hand, the volunteer nature of the job put pressure on WDN and revealed socioeconomic stresses. Moreover, inconsistent support from stakeholders especially health extension workers, inadequate men's engagement, and sidelining of WDN by some educated women remain challenges for the sustainable functionality.
WDN has contributed to multidimensional development goals, especially health services uptake and environmental sanitation However, over time, it became flaccid and lost adequate emphasis from most of its stakeholders and supportive structures. Therefore, considering such vital inputs from community participation in resource-limited settings, stakeholders should offer adequate attention to WDN in terms of selection, training, orientation, follow-up, and acquainting with the community they serve. Moreover, efforts are needed to retain women voluntarily serving and build positive images across all stakeholders and fellow women receiving the services.
妇女赋权是实现跨越多个层面的可持续发展目标的基本问题之一。在埃塞俄比亚，妇女发展网络（WDN）这一妇女网络于2010年成立，具有发展目标。确保妇女赋权迫切需要像WDN这样的平台的集体努力。然而，关于WDN在埃塞俄比亚南部农村地区的功能模式、其贡献以及影响其功能的因素，信息匮乏。因此，本研究旨在探索WDN在埃塞俄比亚南部的状况及其功能的影响因素。
本研究采用探索性定性设计。通过焦点小组讨论和关键 informant 访谈，从有目的选择的区域收集数据。录音材料逐字转录，并采用主题方法进行分析。最初对数据进行编码（开放编码），经过多次审查后，根据研究目标形成并解释主题。
WDN 从成立到现在已经历了几个阶段。它在成立初期受到怀疑，中期得到很好的接受，而目前则步履蹒跚。然而，WDN 有助于家庭福利的改善，这得益于购买食物、衣物、医疗和教育能力的提高。具体到健康方面，WDN 有助于提高公众意识、促进母婴健康利用和环境卫生。另一方面，工作的志愿性质给 WDN 带来了压力，并揭示了社会经济压力。此外，利益相关者尤其是健康推广工作者的支持不一致、男性参与不足以及一些受过教育的女性对 WDN 的边缘化，仍然是其可持续功能的挑战。
WDN 为多维度发展目标做出了贡献，尤其是在健康服务获取和环境卫生方面。然而，随着时间的推移，它变得松弛，失去了大多数利益相关者和支持结构的充分重视。因此，考虑到社区参与在资源有限环境中的此类重要投入，利益相关者应在选择、培训、指导、跟进以及使其熟悉所服务社区方面给予 WDN 充分关注。此外，需要努力留住自愿服务的女性，并在所有利益相关者和接受服务的女性同胞中树立积极形象。
