Rural Women's Participation in Family Food Activities in the Villages of Ishaqa and Al-Shahabiya, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate

Abstract

The study is a descriptive and analytical research aimed at identifying the reality of rural women's participation in family food activities in the villages of Ishaqa and Al-Shahabiya in the rural area of Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate. It sought to explore the key factors associated with and determining this participation. The purposive sample of the study included 368 respondents from the two villages, and the sample was selected with the help of local informants. The study utilized a variety of statistical methods and tests to analyze the data, including frequencies, percentages, simple and multiple correlation analyses, multiple linear regression analysis, stepwise regression, and the T-test for the difference between two means. Data analysis was conducted using the SPSS software. The study produced several descriptive and analytical findings, most notably the significant differences in the degrees of rural women’s participation in food activities between the two types of villages (agricultural vs. agricultural-fishing), with higher participation in the agricultural village (Ishaqa). Additionally, it was found that the level of participation in food activities was moderate in both villages. The study revealed that the variable of housing status significantly contributed to explaining the variance in participation levels in Ishaqa village, while the variable of monthly food expenditure significantly contributed in Al-Shahabiya village. The study concluded with several recommendations aimed at enhancing rural women’s participation in food activities in the study area.