A Study to assess the Knowledge regarding women’s rights among the females of selected area, Kishangarh, Khanna, District Ludhiana, Punjab (2019)

Sumanpreet Kaur, Sakhsi, Renuka, Simran Rehal, Rubalpreet Kaur

208, GT- 9, Omaxe Green, Ambala Pincode-133001

*Corresponding Author E-mail: ahitan.renuka@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT:

Background: Women can be said as God complete creation. She is the symbol of independence, love, caring, gentleness and intensity-both in love and in hate. Women are emotionally stronger than men.¹Aims: Aim of the study is to assess the knowledge regarding women’s rights among the females of selected areas of district Ludhiana Punjab. Materials and Methods: descriptive study was conducted in selected community area (Kishangarh) Distt. Ludhiana, Punjab. A total 100 women between 21-40 years was selected by non-probability (Purposive sampling technique). A self structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge regarding women’s rights among the females. Results: Data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics and presented through tables and figure. The knowledge score regarding women’s rights among the females was average. The study findings showed that 65% had average knowledge, 29% had poor knowledge and 6% had good knowledge. Conclusion: It is concluded that the knowledge regarding women’s rights among the females was average. It is recommended that the study can be repeated on the large scale sample to validate and for better generalization of findings and Comparative study may be conducted to find out the similarities or differences between the knowledge of urban and rural females.

KEYWORDS: Knowledge, women’s rights (21-40 years), Selected Area.

INTRODUCTION:

The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few years. In modern India women have held high offices in India including that of the President, Prime Minister and speaker of Lok Sabha.² Women’s rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide and formed the basis for the women’s rights movement in 19^th century and feminist movement during the 20^th century. In some countries, these rights are supported by law, custom and behavior, where as in others they are ignored and suppressed.

They differ from broader notions of human rights through claims of an inherent historical and traditional bias against, the practice of rights by women, in favor of men^.3 Women empowerment is the process in which women elaborate and recreate what it is that they can be, do, and accomplish in a circumstance that they previously where denied.⁴

Women empowerment has become a significant topic of discussion in development and economics. Women economic empowerment refers to the ability for women to enjoy their right to control and benefit from the resources, assets, income and their own time, as well as the ability to manage risk and improve their economic status and well being.⁵ Rights of women is a necessity for the very development of a society, since it enhances both the equality and quantity of human resources available for development.⁶ The status characteristics of ancient and modern day women in Greece evolved from event that occurred in the history of Greece. according to Michael Scott, in his article “the rise in women in ancient Greece, place of women and their achievement in ancient Greece was best described by Thucydides in this quotation”, that the greatest glory [for women] is to be least talked about MEN, whether in praise of blame .¹²however, the status of Greek women has undergone charge and more advancement upon onset of the twentieth century.⁷

Women and girls right are human rights they cover every aspects of life, health education, political participation, economic wellbeing and freedom violence, among many others. Women and girls are entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and to be free from all forms of discrimination this is fundamental to achieve human rights, peace and security and sustainable development.⁸

In 1977, the united Nations General Assembly declared international women’s day an annual event .In 2015, the word economic forum predicted that global gender parity (i.e, equality) would, at the current rate of progress, not be achieved until 2133:117 years from now many women’s rights have been hard won over a centuries-long struggle for equality^.9

OBJECIVES OF THE STUDY:

· To assess the knowledge score regarding women’s rights among the females.

· To find out association between the knowledge score with selected socio-demographic variables.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Quantitative Research approach was employed for the present study as it is aimed to assess the knowledge regarding women’s rights among the females residing in the selected community area, Distt. Ludhiana, Punjab.

The non-experimental description research design refers to plan or organization of the scientific investigation for conducting the study. It also includes the various steps used by the researcher to meet the objectives of the study. The presented study was conducted in village Kishangarh, Khanna, Ludhiana to assess the knowledge regarding women’s rights among the females. Sample consisted of 100 people of village Kishangarh, Khanna, Ludhiana and selection was done on the basis of non probability sampling technique.

PART A This part consist of socio demographic variables for obtaining sample characteristics i.e. age, education, marital status, religion, type of family, occupation, source of information.

PART B- This part contains self structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the knowledge.

This part consists of 28 items to assess knowledge. Each correct answer carries one mark. Each incorrect answer carries zero mark.

Criterion Measure:

Level of knowledge	Score	Percentage
Good	19-28	6%
Average	10-18	65%
Poor	0-9	29%

Maximum score = 28

Minimum score = 00

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Women of age 21-40 years.

Those who were willing to participate in the study.

Those who were present at home during the time of data collection

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Women who were not present at the time of data collection.

Those who were not willing to participate.

Those who were not cover the age group of present study.

ASSUMPTIONS:

Women do have inadequate knowledge regarding women’s rights.

VALIDITY OF TOOL:

Tool validity as follows: in consultation with M.Sc (Community Health Nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Maternal Health Nursing) guides and B.Sc co-guide regarding language validity of tool. The tool was circulated among the experts including M.sc and B.sc Nursing as per guidance and suggestions of experts were discussed and amendments were made to formulate the final tool for data collection. The tool was translated into Punjabi by language experts.

RESULTS:

This chapter deals with the analysis and interpretation of data. Findings of the study were emphasized into following section:

Section A: Sample characteristics

Section B: Existing knowledge regarding women rights

Section C: Association of knowledge score with selected socio demographic variables.

Section A: This was evident from the above table that higher percentage 52% of women belongs to 21-40 years of age followed by equal percentage 48% of women noticed in the age group of 21-40 years. The education status of women were (5%) Illiterate, (15%) primary, (35%) Secondary and (45%) Graduate or above. Regarding type of family were belongs to (62%) Nuclear family and (38%) Joint family. In the case of Religion sample belonged to (6%) Sikh, (94%) Hindu. Regarding marital status of women were (75%) Married and (25%) Unmarried. The majority of occupation of women were (11%) Unemployed, (8%) Government services, (45%) Housewife and (36%) Self Employed. The majority of Information sources on (21%) Mass Media, (10%) Friends (60%) Family and (9%) teachers.

Section B:

Table 1: Frequency, Percentage, Mean and standard deviation, distribution of knowledge score of women regarding women rights N-100

S. No	Level of knowledge	Criterion measure	Frequency	Percentage	Mean/SD
1.	Poor	0-9	29	29%	M-12.01 SD-137.9
2.	Average	10-18	65	65%
3.	Good	19-28	6	6%

Section C:

Table 2: Association of knowledge score with selected socio demographic variables. N-100

Sr. No

Sample characteristics

Level of knowledge

Table value

Chi square

Poor

Average

Good

Age

• 21-30

• 31-40

5.99

0.53^NS

Education

• Illiterate

• Primary

• Secondary

• Graduate or above

12.59

15.49*

Type of family

• Nuclear family

• Joint family

5.99

7.276*

Religion

• Hindu

• Sikh

• Muslim

• Christen

12.59

8.25^NS

Marital status

• Married

• Unmarried

5.99

4.2^NS

Occupation of women

• Unemployed

• Government services

• Housewife

• Self employed

12.59

42.1*

Source of information

• Mass media

• Friends

• Family

• Teachers

12.59

16.54*

*-Significant 0.05 p value

NS Non Significant

Table 3: Depicts there were significant association (H₁ research hypothesis were accepted) of knowledge score with women education, type of family, occupation and source of information has respectively higher than the table value. In case of age, religion and marital status the H₀(Null hypothesis were rejected)

DISCUSSION:

Shiney Easo (2014) conducted a descriptive study to assess the knowledge on women’s rights among working and non-working women of Udapi District. The data were collected from 50 working and 50 non- working women between the age group of 18-60 years by house to house survey in Marne village of Udapi District. The study findings were that the majority of working women had a good knowledge (84%) where as majority of non- working women (76%) had average knowledge. So the working women had good knowledge then non-working women.¹⁰

Hemangi D. Mehta (2011) conducted a comparative study of undergraduate college student in mahila college (wadwan city). The study was conducted to assess knowledge regarding right to education among college students of various fields. The respondents were selected from different fields. The result shown that home science respondents have high aware (40%) regarding right to education than the arts and commerce respondents. Arts (30%) and commerce (30%) were almost same.¹¹

CONCLUSION:

from the findings of the study following conclusion were

· The result of the present study revealed that the mean knowledge was 12.01 respectively.

· In knowledge score of females 6% had good knowledge whereas 65% had average knowledge and 29% had poor knowledge.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATION:

The ethical approval was taken from Sarpanch, Kishangarh, Punjab prior to final data collection. Apart from this, informed consent was taken from each respondent to participate in the study. The participants were informed that participation was voluntary and they had freedom to withdraw from the study. Confidentiality was maintained.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The author declares that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

NURSING IMPLICATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

NURSING EDUCATION:

Education is the key to the development of excellence in nursing education. education faces tremendous challenge in keeping pace with changing in nursing practice to maintain its high quality. nurse with higher education and up to date knowledge will deliver post effective and quality care. There fore in order to ensure females are able to give proper knowledge regarding women’s rights

NURSING PRACTICE:

There is need for health personnel to take active part in providing education to females regarding women’s rights. Health education can be provided to females regarding women’s rights.

NURSING ADMINISTRATION:

In order to create awareness in community area, one must inform, communicate and educate those who are to disseminate the message to women’s Administrator a climate of utilization of most current pertaining to assess the knowledge regarding women’s rights among females. Sharing information can enhance the knowledge of health personnel. Nursing administrators should take initiative and be involved organizing campaign and health education programmes for improving the knowledge regarding women’s rights among females.

NURSING RESEARCH:

No profession can exist without research to develop body of knowledge to tested strategy, to ensure that its action makes difference. Research has a vital and significant role nursing.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Similar study can be conducted on a large sample to generalize the findings of the study.

• Similar study can be conducted on different population and in different settings like rural area.

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3. Fran P Hasken. Human Rights quarterly: towards a definition of women’s rights. May 1981;3(2);1-10.

4. Kabeer Naila. Gender equality and women empowerment: A Critical analysis of the third millennium development Goal 1. 2005; 13(1);13-24

5. Oxfam Forthcoming. Women Economic Empowerment Conceptual Framework.

6. Gupta Kamla, Yesudian, P. Princy Evidence of women’s empowerment in India “A study of socio spatial disparities.

7. Jeske Kerstin. European database. women in decision making country Report Greece. 2009; 59.

8. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hessian. By the united nation high commissioner for Human Rights: Human Rights Beijing 20. 1.12.204

9. Shiney Easo, Shashidhara YN, Ansuya. International journal of advanced research. 2014; 2(4); 782-787

10. MN. Vidan Apathiran, S. Vara Thayan. Ceylon. Journal of medical sciences: knowledge and attitude on gender equality and their correlates. June 2017; 54(1); 35-43

11. Hemangi D. Mehta, Kuriconto Nami , Mado.International Perspective on sexual and reproductive health :women’s empowerment and choice of contraceptive method . March 2011;38(1);23-33

Received on 02.01.2020 Modified on 28.01.2020

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2020; 8(2):269-272.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2660.2020.00059.9