The role of educational channels in the motivating of rural women to improve household food security

The main purpose of the present study was to explore the role of educational channels in motivating rural women to participate in improving household food security. The statistical population was composed of all married women in the Sirvan County (Ilam Province). Using Cochran's sampling formula, 368 women were sampled. The main instrument was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a panel of food security experts and members of faculty agricultural sciences and natural resources university of Khuzestan and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliability. The alpha values varied from 0.79 to 0.85 for the educational channels and participation sections, respectively. Data were analyzed by the SPSS18 and Lisrel(8.54) software packages. Results showed that rural women were not in the promotion of food security are participating high and nearly 80% of the studied rural household are exposed to food insecurity. The main channels used by rural women for the improvement of food security include family, TV, and neighbors. The results of the correlation analysis revealed that educational channels (local, national, and international) were significantly (P <.01) correlated with rural women's participation in promoting household food security. Also, based on the results of means comparison, women's participation in food security improvement is significantly related with the variables of participating in extension courses, getting nutrition information, production systems, family size, distance between residency location and the city, educational level, and job of the person who is in responsibility of food provision. In addition, the results of the structural equation modeling showed that education channels had a positive and significant effect on the participation in improving household food security (R2 = 0.49, gamma = 0.70, t = 8.60). The present research provides a scientifically rational justification as to how to improve food security among rural communities. The results can essentially help policymakers alleviate food insecurity and undernourishment.