African Journal of Gender and Women Studies

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

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 ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (8), pp. 001-013, August, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Gendered Dynamics of Transnational Living: A Narrative Inquiry of Ghanaian Couples

Rodlyn Remina Hines, PhD, CFLE, CFCS-HDFS

SUNY Empire State University, New York. 

Abstract

Received 11 June, 2025; Revised 15 15 June, 2025; Accepted 21 July, 2025 and Published 13 August, 2025

This article examines the gendered dimensions of transnational living among Ghanaian immigrant couples who maintain marital relationships across international borders. Using a narrative inquiry methodology—specifically, in-depth life story interviews—and grounded in symbolic interactionism, gender theory, and intersectionality, the study explores the lived experiences of ten spouses—five women and five men—who live apart between Ghana and the United States. Data were collected between 2021 and 2022. Participants’ narratives reveal that while both men and women experience emotional and relational strain, these experiences are shaped in distinctly gendered ways. Women report heightened emotional labor, persistent expectations of fidelity, and long-distance caregiving responsibilities, while men describe social pressure to remarry and a disrupted sense of authority within the marital relationship. These gendered strains are exacerbated by irregular visitations, remittance obligations, and communication breakdowns. The study situates these narratives within broader Ghanaian cultural norms that prioritize male authority and female responsibility for kin care, while also examining how transnational conditions destabilize—but do not erase—those norms. By centering personal stories, the article illuminates how gendered power operates across space, distance, and cultural systems. While limited by a small sample size and the focus on Ghana-U.S. couples, the study offers practical implications for transnational family counseling and support services. This research contributes to feminist and migration scholarship by advancing understanding of how gender, place, and transnationalism intersect to reshape intimacy, responsibility, and identity in global family life.

Keywords: Gender and Migration; Transnational Families; Narrative Inquiry; Ghanaian Immigrants; Transnational Intimacy.