African Journal of Gender and Women Studies

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 1, January 2026 | pp. 33–40
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000105

Case Study Article

Bridging the Educational Gender Gap: Community-Led Mentorship Programs for Adolescent Girls in Rural Ghana

Efua Mensah¹, Kofi Owusu²

¹Department of Educational Foundations, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
²Institute for Development Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

Abstract: Despite national free secondary education policies in Ghana, adolescent girls in rural agrarian districts experience high dropout rates driven by early pregnancy, domestic burdens, and menstrual poverty. This article evaluates a two-year community-led mentorship intervention implemented across 15 junior high schools in the Central Region. Using a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test control group design, tracking 600 female students aged 12 to 16 years, we measured changes in school retention rates and academic self-efficacy. Statistical evaluation using a chi-square test of independence demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in dropout rates from 18.5 percent in the control cohort to 4.2 percent in the intervention cohort (p < 0.001). Key success factors included peer-led reproductive health workshops, distribution of reusable sanitary products, and parental engagement seminars addressing cultural barriers to female education. The findings suggest that localized, mentorship-driven support models effectively complement national educational policies.

Keywords: Educational equity, adolescent girls, rural Ghana, mentorship, school retention, menstrual hygiene

Manuscript Timeline: Received: November 10, 2025; Revised: December 12, 2025; Accepted: December 24, 2025; Published: January 28, 2026

Citation: Mensah, E., & Owusu, K. (2026). Bridging the Educational Gender Gap: Community-Led Mentorship Programs for Adolescent Girls in Rural Ghana. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(1), 33–40. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000105

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 1, January 2026 | pp. 1–8
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000101

Research Article

Digital Microfinance and Women’s Economic Empowerment: Evidence from Urban Market Cooperatives in Lagos

Amina Bello¹, Chidinma Okafor²

¹Department of Economics, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
²Department of Sociology, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of digital microfinance platforms on the economic autonomy of female market traders in urban Nigeria. Despite rapid fintech growth, structural barriers often limit low-income women from scaling their enterprises. Utilizing a mixed-methods design, we surveyed 450 female cooperative members and conducted 30 in-depth interviews across three major commercial hubs in Lagos. Statistical analysis using a multiple regression model reveals a positive correlation between mobile credit access and monthly business revenue, with a mean increase of 32.5 percent (p < 0.01). However, qualitative findings highlight persistent challenges, including high interest rates, digital literacy gaps, and coercive loan recovery tactics by unregulated apps. The results demonstrate that while digital microfinance enhances immediate cash-flow liquidity, long-term empowerment remains constrained without targeted digital skills training and gender-responsive regulatory frameworks. Policymakers must mandate transparent pricing models and foster cooperative-led digital platforms to ensure inclusive financial growth.

Keywords: Digital microfinance, women empowerment, fintech, market traders, economic autonomy, Nigeria

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 12, 2025; Revised: November 28, 2025; Accepted: December 15, 2025; Published: January 10, 2026

Citation: Bello, A., & Okafor, C. (2026). Digital Microfinance and Women’s Economic Empowerment: Evidence from Urban Market Cooperatives in Lagos. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(1), 1–8. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000101

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 49–56

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000107

Research Article

Title: Women in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: Economic Survival, Occupational Health Hazards, and Environmental Realities in Rural Tanzania

Names of Authors: Aisha Juma¹, Mariama Diallo²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Development Studies, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; ²Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal

Abstract: Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) supports millions across rural East Africa, yet women within this sector are structurally marginalized into low-paying, highly toxic processing tasks like amalgamation. This field-based study examines the socio-economic drivers and acute occupational health profiles of women working in informal gold mining settlements in Geita, Tanzania. Using a participatory action research framework, data was gathered from n = 280 female miners via structured health screenings, environmental hazard mapping, and economic activity logs. Quantitative toxicological evaluations showed chronic mercury exposure levels averaging μ = 4.8 ± 1.2 micrograms per gram in hair samples, far above safe biological limits. Economically, women earned roughly 40.2 ± 6.5% less than male miners per shift despite equivalent labor inputs, as men retained ownership of extraction machinery and ore shafts (t = 7.15, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, sexual harassment and precarious working conditions were universally reported. The study emphasizes the urgent need for formalization policies, mercury-free processing technology access, and cooperative mining rights specifically designated for women miners.

Keywords: Artisanal mining, occupational health, mercury exposure, gender wage gap, informal economy, Tanzania

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 01 April 2026; Revised: 01 July 2026; Accepted: 15 July 2026; Published: 01 August 2026

Citation: Juma, A., & Diallo, M. (2026). Women in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: Economic Survival, Occupational Health Hazards, and Environmental Realities in Rural Tanzania. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(8), 49–56.

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 2, February 2026 | pp. 41–48
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000201

Research Article

Land Tenure Reform and Women’s Agricultural Productivity: Empirical Insights from Rural Rwanda

Jeanette Uwamariya¹, Olivier Nkurunziza²

¹Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda
²Institute of Policy Analysis and Research, Kigali, Rwanda

Abstract: Rwanda’s national land tenure regularization program introduced mandatory joint land registration for married couples, aiming to secure women’s land rights. This empirical study examines whether this legal reform translated into enhanced agricultural investment and crop yields among female-managed plots in the Southern Province. Analyzing survey data from 520 farming households before and after the reform, we applied a difference-in-differences econometric model. The statistical evaluation indicates a 19.4 percent rise in long-term soil conservation investments on plots with female co-titling names compared to control plots (t = 4.12, p < 0.01). Crop productivity value increased by an estimated 14.8 percent per hectare among households where women shared equal legal decision-making over land usage. However, informal social norms still restrict women from utilizing registered land as collateral for commercial agricultural loans. The study confirms that joint titling empowers female farmers productively, yet requires complementary financial sector reforms to maximize impact.

Keywords: Land tenure, agricultural productivity, co-titling, gender equity, Rwanda

Manuscript Timeline: Received: November 15, 2025; Revised: December 18, 2025; Accepted: January 05, 2026; Published: February 05, 2026

Citation: Uwamariya, J., & Nkurunziza, O. (2026). Land Tenure Reform and Women’s Agricultural Productivity: Empirical Insights from Rural Rwanda. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(2), 41–48. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000201

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 6, June 2026 | pp. 33–40

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000105

Research Article

Title: Gender-Based Violence Reporting and Survivor Support Systems: An Assessment of Police Response Efficiency in Urban South Africa

Names of Authors: Thandiwe Ndlovu¹, Musu Thompson²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Criminology and Forensic Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; ²Liberian Institute of Socio-Economic Research, Monrovia, Liberia

Abstract: South Africa maintains some of the highest recorded rates of gender-based violence (GBV) globally, yet institutional response failures at the primary policing interface frequently exacerbate survivor trauma. This study evaluates the operational efficiency, attitudinal preparedness, and resource adequacy of police stations across urban townships in KwaZulu-Natal regarding GBV case management. Data collection combined direct service-point audits across 20 police stations with secondary analysis of n = 1,250 victim case logs and semi-structured interviews with 30 victim support officers. The findings reveal pervasive secondary victimization: 52% of survivors reported experiencing unsympathetic or hostile treatment from frontline desk officers. Operational delays were severe, with an average response time of 3.4 ± 1.1 hours for domestic violence distress calls, far exceeding statutory guidelines. Furthermore, functional rape-kits and private trauma counseling rooms were completely absent in 40% of audited facilities (chi-square = 18.41, p = 0.0002). The research advocates for institutional accountability mechanisms, mandatory trauma-informed training for all law enforcement personnel, and the immediate scale-up of dedicated, well-resourced diversion desks.

Keywords: Gender-based violence, law enforcement, secondary victimization, institutional response, South Africa

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 05 February 2026; Revised: 10 May 2026; Accepted: 22 May 2026; Published: 01 June 2026

Citation: Ndlovu, T., & Thompson, M. (2026). Gender-Based Violence Reporting and Survivor Support Systems: An Assessment of Police Response Efficiency in Urban South Africa. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(6), 33–40.

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 1, January 2026 | pp. 9–16
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000102

Review Article

Maternal Health Disparities and Rural Healthcare Infrastructure in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda

Grace Akello¹, Aisha Namubiru²

¹Department of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
²Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda

Abstract: Post-conflict reconstruction in northern Uganda continues to grapple with severe maternal health disparities, disproportionately affecting displaced and rural women. This systematic review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature from 2018 to 2025 examining infrastructural decay, skilled birth attendant shortages, and obstetric fistula prevalence in the Acholi sub-region. Synthesizing data across 24 empirical studies, the review notes that emergency obstetric referral times exceed 3.5 hours on average, contributing to a maternal mortality ratio estimated at 385 per 100,000 live births. Findings indicate that rebuilding physical clinics is insufficient without addressing community-level distrust in formal health systems and integrating traditional birth attendants into the primary healthcare referral matrix. Furthermore, gender-based violence linked to historical conflict trauma exacerbates psychological distress during pregnancy. The paper advocates for decentralized maternal health interventions, mobile obstetric units, and community-led psychosocial support systems tailored to post-conflict realities.

Keywords: Maternal health, post-conflict reconstruction, rural healthcare, obstetric fistula, northern Uganda

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 18, 2025; Revised: December 02, 2025; Accepted: December 18, 2025; Published: January 15, 2026

Citation: Akello, G., & Namubiru, A. (2026). Maternal Health Disparities and Rural Healthcare Infrastructure in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(1), 9–16. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000102