"Background: The study presents an index of women empowerment based on a statistical technique of data reduction viz. factor analysis and provides an in depth analysis of states in India with respect to the National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) dataset.
Methods: The dataset on several indicators of women well being are selected from the dataset obtained from the Open Government Data platform (ODG) India. The items are statistically grouped to form component indices and subsequently the aggregative index of women empowerment. Positions of states are analyzed according to the scale of indices. Relationships between the components are also measured using correlation analysis.
Results: The factor analytic model identifies grouping in the data and also explains the variation among the indicators or the heterogeneity among the population to a great extent (73%). Women empowerment is divided into six factors or groups namely knowledge & education, general health & social status, family planning, fertility & access to health care services, economic independence & decision making, violence against women and addiction. The scores attached to each of the components are evaluated and presented for each state.
Conclusions: The study explains the importance of women em-powerment in the light of the recently adopted sustainable devel-opment goals for 2030. The current scenario of Indian states in various socio economic, demographic and health indicators of well being of women will be useful in constructing strategies and plans regarding development.
Key words: Women Empowerment, NFHS-4, sustainable development goals, aggregative index, factor analysis, correlation analysis
|
