THE IMPACTS OF MOTHERHOOD ON WOMEN’S SOCIOECONOMIC AND HEALTH STATUSES IN JIMMA GENETE DISTRICT, HORRO GUDURU WALLAGGA ZONE, OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

Though women are about more than half of world population, their Socio-economic and health statuses are highly affected by different factors like childbearing and childrearing. Most of the time childbearing and childrearing are considered as activities that never affect women’s life status. However, the reality is not as said. Literatures show that motherhood affect women’s education, income, health and social interaction. Hence, this study was intended to investigate the impact of childbearing and childrearing on SES of women in Jimma Genete district, one of the districts in Oromia National Regional State. In this study, both quantitative and qualitative research approach were used. The primary data were collected using survey, in- depth interview, focus group discussion and case studies. A total of 400 women respondents were covered by the questionnaire survey. Fifteen (15) women informants were also deeply interviewed where as five (5) focus group discussions and five (5) case studies were undertaken to collect qualitative data. To analyze the quantitative data Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of respondents were uneducated and attended only until grade four (61%), and house wife (50%). This study found that due to their motherhood responsibility, women’s educational, income, health and social interaction status were affected. Finally, society should be given awareness about the negative impacts of motherhood on women’s socio-economic and health statues and men should equally share with women activities related to childrearing and Create awareness about family planning and optimal ages for childbearing that will improve women’s health, income, educational and social interaction statuses were forwarded as recommendations based on the findings of the study. Keywords: Jimma Genete District, Socio-economic and Health Statuses of women, Motherhood