Thesis:

Determinants of literacy levels among Somali women, a case study of Ijara sub-county, Garissa County, Kenya

The lack of literacy skills among Somali women in Ijara Sub-County has adverse effects on their ability to access employment opportunities, participate in the formal labor market, and contribute to the local economy. Furthermore, low literacy levels limit their capacity to engage in decision making processes and advocate for their rights, perpetuating gender inequalities within the community. This research aimed to investigate the determinants of literacy levels among Somali women in Ijara Sub-County, Garissa County, Kenya. The study focused on understanding the factors that contributed to the literacy rates among Somali women in Ijara Sub-County, with the objective of identifying barriers and potential strategies for improving literacy outcomes. The specific objectives of the study were to assess how the nomadic lifestyle affected literacy levels among Somali women in Ijara Sub-County, to examine the effects of the HIV and AIDS pandemic on the literacy levels of Somali women in Ijara Sub-County, to investigate the influence of early marriages on the literacy levels of Somali women in Ijara Sub-County, and to assess how gender roles determined the literacy levels of Somali women in Ijara Sub-County. The study adopted Feminist Theory and the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM), with Feminist Theory serving as the anchor theory of the study. The research design adopted was a cross-sectional design to collect data at a specific point in time from a population of interest. The study was conducted in Ijara Sub County, which is located in Garissa County, Kenya. The target population for this study consisted of 64,339 females residing in Ijara Sub-County, Garissa County. The study used the Cochran and Snedecor formula to calculate the appropriate sample size. The sample size of the study was 128 respondents, which included Somali women, female learners, local women leaders, and school head teachers in Ijara Sub-County. The Multiple Linear Regression Analysis indicates a moderate negative correlation (R = -0.626) between literacy levels and predictors nomadic lifestyle, HIV and AIDS, early marriages, and gender roles responsibilities, with these factors collectively explaining approximately 39.2% of the variance in literacy levels among Somali women in Ijara Sub-county, highlighting the significant impact of socio-cultural and health-related challenges on educational outcomes. These results underscored the necessity for targeted interventions that addressed these specific challenges to enhance literacy levels in the community, ultimately empowering Somali women and fostering their educational advancement. By focusing on these determinants, stakeholders could work towards meaningful improvements in literacy outcomes for Somali women in Ijara Sub-County. The study recommended that to improve literacy levels among Somali women in Ijara Sub-County, it was essential to develop and implement targeted interventions that specifically addressed the identified determinants: Gender Roles and Responsibility, the HIV and AIDS Pandemic, Nomadic Lifestyle, and Early Marriages. This could include creating community-based educational programs that challenged traditional gender norms, provided health education related to HIV/AIDS, and offered flexible learning options that accommodated the nomadic lifestyle.