Sectors of Self Employment of Persons with Disabilities in Urban Areas of East Wollega Zone, Western Oromia, Ethopia. Empirical Findings and Recommendations

Academic Paper from the year 2019 in the subject Sociology - Work, Profession, Education, Organisation, Wollega University, language: English, abstract: This research study assesses the factors that affect the self-employment of the persons with disabilities in Urban Areas of East Wollega Zone and analses gender disparities on participation of the households in income generating activities and household income.

A simple random sampling of the persons with disabilities is therefore made from all the six sub cities, under Nekemte town, proportional to their size in each sub city. A total of 121 persons with disabilities are drawn and analysed using both descriptive and econometric analysis. The study reveals that 25.62 percent of persons with disabilities are engaged in income generating activities equally with other healthy (active) citizens of the people in the area. The use of credit, the social capital and better health condition are variables identified in significantly influencing their participation in income generating activities. The proportion of participation of female persons with disabilities is higher as compared to male counterpart. There is discrepancy in annual income of female heads compared to male headed. At the same time the study indicates that a significant number, 30.58 percent, still require a continuous support (health, food, sheltering, clothing, and so on) from any source to cope up with the highly competitive living condition.

The study recommends support on enhancing their educational level through training, health condition and provision of credit to increase their engagement in income generating activities for the healthy (able to work) persons; and provision of a continuous assistance for the remaining households that are in bad health condition.