Constraints to Gender Participation in Rural Community Development in Abia State, Nigeria

This study examined constraints to gender participation in rural community development in Abia State. A multistage sampling procedure was used in the selection of 120 households for the study. Data was analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that the mean age of the respondents was 50.5 years, 75.7% of them were married and had a mean household size of 6 persons. The average years spent in school by the respondents was 12 years, their major occupation was farming (52.4%) and monthly income was N65, 739. 00. Their major constraints in carrying out self-help rural community development for males and females were fund-raising problem ((x) over bar =3.2 andX=3.0), embezzlement of fund ((x) over bar =3.1 and = 2.8), nonchalant attitude to accountability (k=3.1 andX=2.5), mismanagement of fund ((x) over bar =3.1 (x) over bar =3.8). Some of the strategies employed by both males and females for active participation were payment of fine ((x) over bar =2.4 and (x) over bar =2.5) and praise/recommendation for participation ((x) over bar =2.4 ann=2.7). A significant difference existed between rural community development constraints of males and females in the areas of nonchallant attitude to accountability (t = 2.4, p = 0.05) and politicization of projects (t = 2.2, p=0.05). There was also a significant difference between rural community development strategies employed by males