Peer-reviewed article

Factors influencing women's literacy status in rural Ethiopia using 2019 mini EDHS data.

Hantal HS, Abite GM, Dessalegn B, Metkie KA, Simegnew M · 9 Mar 2026

Abstract

Literacy encompasses the capacity to read and write with comprehension in any language and it empowers individuals aged 7+ to understand, interpret, create, communicate, and compute using diverse materials, promoting personal development and community engagement. Female illiteracy hinders technological, social, and economic progress having Ethiopia faces high female illiteracy rates. Hence, the purpose of this study was to identify the key drivers of women's literacy in rural Ethiopia, taking into consideration selected demographic and socioeconomic indicators from the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey dataset. This study utilized data from the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey (EMDHS), conducted in Ethiopia. A total of 5931 women from rural Ethiopia who had successfully finished their literacy status interviews were included in the analysis. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to identify the significant determinants of women's literacy among the selected factors. Approximately, over two-thirds 3989 (67.3%) of women aged 15-49 were illiterate. The final random slopes logistic regression model identified significant factors affecting women's literacy in rural Ethiopia, including family size (p = 0.007), household wealth index (p < 0.001), number of living children (p = 0.003), married (p = 0.032), widowed (p = 0.022) and divorced (p < 0.001) women, age at first birth (p < 0.001), women aged 15-29 years (p < 0.001), and the woman's relationship as a wife (p = 0.027) and daughter (p < 0.001) to the household head. Household size, wealth index, number of living children, marital status, age at first birth, age, and relationship to the household head emerged as significant predictors. Notably, larger households, additional children, and specific socio-demographic characteristics were associated with increased illiteracy risk. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities and promote women's literacy in rural Ethiopia.