Table 3

Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of women, by SHG participation (percentages)

Characteristic
Not member N = 336
Member N = 592







Late joiner (< = 2 years) N = 442
Early joiner (> 2 years) N = 150

Age of woman (years)***
30 and under (n = 227)
38.3
48.5
13.2

31–44 (n = 418)
28.0
52.4
19.6

45–59 (n = 283)
46.6
39.9
13.4
Relationship to head
Head (n = 126)
39.7
39.7
20.6

Spouse (n = 802)
35.7
48.9
15.5
Education of woman***
None (n = 242)
47.9
43.8
8.3

Primary (n = 194)
37.1
46.9
16.0

High school+ (n = 492)
30.1
49.8
20.1
Employment status of woman
Engaged (n = 240)
35.0
44.2
20.8

Not engaged (n = 688)
36.6
48.8
14.5
Size of household landholdings
50 cents or less (n = 729)
34.3
48.8
16.9

> 50 cents (n = 199)
43.2
43.2
13.6
Caste of head
SC/ST (n = 363)
38.6
46.6
14.9

OBC (n = 357)
38.7
46.2
15.1

Forward (n = 208)
27.9
51.9
20.2

Total
(n = 928)
36.2
47.6
16.2

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, tested by chi-square.

Mohindra et al. International Journal for Equity in Health 2008 7:2   doi:10.1186/1475-9276-7-2