Socio-cultural predictors of female participation in sports in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Women have faced barriers that have discouraged their progress in the level of participation in sport across all the countries and Nigeria is not an exception. This study examined the socio-cultural factors influencing women participation in sports Ikwo local governments, Ebonyi state. Methods: The descriptive survey design was used. The population of the study comprised 200 female athletes in Ikwo local governments which covered twenty (20) wards. They was no need for sampling hence the entire population was used for the study. A self-structured questionnaire was employed in collecting data from the respondents. Data collected were analyze descriptively using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviations. Results: The result of the mean and standard deviations of Social factors ( = 2.71±SD=0.56), and cultural factors ( = 2.85 ±SD=0.53), indicated that both social and cultural factors predicts/prevent female participation in sports in Ikwo local government area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The result of the null-hypotheses tested shows that there was a significant difference in the class level (F = 4.306; P = 0.003< 0.05) and marital status (F = 3.976; P = 0.021< 0.05) of the respondents. However, age of the respondents did not differ (F = 0.330; P = 0.719> 0.05) on the socio-cultural predictors of female participation in sports. Conclusion: The Government, physical and health educators and other relevant stakeholders should organize community based education or enlightenment campaign in various communities in the area and Nigeria in general on the importance of sports participation among women.