| The purpose of this cross-sectional correlational study was to measure the perception of community empowerment by women in two communities of Cali, Colombia; investigate the relationships of the women's perception of community empowerment with selected variables: sociodemographic context, health context, and women's context. The overall goal was to determine predictors of women's perception of empowerment.;The study results indicated that in general, women perceived they had low community empowerment. The perception of empowerment differed for women from the two communities studied. Significant relationships were identified between women's perception of empowerment and family income, employment, empowering activities, awareness of community health problems, groups known, group participation, and models known.;Also, significant relationships were identified between women's perception of personal health and age, education, children, perception of family health, and family planning use. No significant relationship was found between perception of empowerment and perception of personal health.;Regression analysis revealed that the predictors of women's perception of community empowerment were employment, groups known, empowering activities, awareness of community problems, number of models known and the community where women live.;Community empowerment was measured with a culturally sensitive scale, developed in the Spanish language and pilot tested in Cali. Interviews were completed to survey a probability sample of 130 women, aged 18 to 45 years in Cali. Construct validity, content validity, reliability, and readibility was established.;The social and political context of Colombian life provides the basis for discussion of findings. Simultaneously archival search was conducted to help explain the results of this study. The findings of this research have implications for health policy and health education. Empowerment is a complex construct. Participation and influence were the main concepts yielded by the factor analysis. It is proposed that policies be identified that promote and favor women participation and leadership. Health care providers and women should participate as partners in the process of improving health and in the implementation of empowerment education programs. A social structure framework for explaining women's empowerment was refined on the basis of the initial framework and study findings. Limitations of this study and recommendations for future research are given. |
