Factors Affecting the Rural Women Micro Credit Program Success in Ghaem-shahr

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive- analytical research was to assess the success of Micro Finance Program (MFP) of rural women. The research instrument used was a questionnaire that its validity was established by a panel of experts and its reliability was confirmed by a pilot-test. Cronbach alpha coefficient gained was (0.84). The target population were rural women in Ghaem-shahr Township who were members of micro-credit funds (N=225). A stratified sampling technique was used through Krejcie and Morgan’s Table to determine the sample size (n=114).The descriptive result of research indicated that the success of these funds was satisfactory as perceived by the respondents' viewpoints. The inferential statistics results showed that there was a positive significant relationship between social, educational, cultural, and personality characteristics of respondents and the success of micro-credit funds. The findings of the bivariate regression revealed that 50.1 percent of variations in the dependent variable were by social, cultural, and personality characteristics of respondents. Having training programs for members and motivating participants to participate in developing and delivery educational programs were among main suggestions provided in this research.

Keywords

• micro finance program
• rural women
• ghaem-shahr