Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, MAHE, Manipal, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Mental Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, MAHE, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Few women in history were respected by society because of their contributions
to the field of science, arts, politics, and so on, but in general, women are deprived of their rights
and being refrained from decision‑making in major areas of individual and family life. This research
tried to investigate the degree of empowerment and quality of life (QOL) of the women to find out
the relationship between empowerment and QOL of women.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: An exploratory survey was carried out among 210 purposively selected
married women aged between 20 and 49 years in a selected municipality area of West Bengal.
Data were obtained by one‑to‑one interviews using Women Empowerment Interview Schedule and
WHOQOL Scale BREF.
RESULTS: The mean total QOL score of the women was found as 98.59 ± 13.61. The transformed
scores in the physical, psychological, social relation, and environmental domains were 74.92 ± 14.97,
66.58 ± 15.78, 81.00 ± 18.07, and 65.28 ± 17.99, respectively. The degree of empowerment was
calculated as 64.71 ± 6.79. Among the women, 5% had poor, 62% had medium, and 33% had a
high degree of empowerment. A weak positive correlation (r = 0.325, P = 0.001) was found between
QOL and empowerment. Significant associations were established between empowerment and
education (Fisher’s exact = 13.975 [0.007]) and education gap with husband (Fisher’s Exact = 8.68,
P 0.069). Multiple regression analysis between empowerment dimensions and QOL shows that
personal or family dimensions, including health, are a significant predictor for the QOL (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: Most of the women had medium degree of empowerment. Increased degree of
empowerment improves their QOL of women. Women should be aware of their rights that can
enhance the empowerment in different dimensions of life.
Keywords
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