Abstract:
Legal Aid Service (LAS) intervention is considered to have an influence on women
empowerment through raising awareness of women towards their rights. Using
Kongwa and Morogoro Rural districts as study areas, a study was conducted involving
240 women (120 beneficiaries and 120 non-beneficiaries of LAS). A cross-sectional
research design was used, whereby random selection of respondents was done.
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. A
Composite Empowerment Index (CEI) was used to measure the extent of women
empowerment among beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of LAS interventions. Women
in the study areas were categorized at medium level of empowerment. Beneficiaries of
LAS interventions were found to be more empowered relative to their counterparts.
Ordinal logistic regression analysis results showed that involvement of women in LAS
interventions, awareness of women legal rights, marital status and age at first marriage
were the most determinant factors that influence women empowerment in Morogoro
Rural and Kongwa district. Hence persistent sensitization of women about their rights
is critical for reducing violence against them and ultimately achieving high levels of
empowerment. Also, rigorous enforcement of existing laws and policies is required to
discourage and ultimately eliminate the practice of early marriage
