ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DESIGN OF EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENT MOTHERS (#1154)

Authors

Sánchez Hernández, Carmen Lizeth

Altamirano Bonilla, Marianne Poleth

Delcid-Carrasco, Javier Enrique

Abstract

The empowerment of university student mothers in Honduras represents a growing challenge due to the multiple personal, academic, and structural barriers that affect their retention and professional development in higher education. In this study, the term university student mothers refer to women who are enrolled in higher education programs while simultaneously fulfilling maternal responsibilities. The literature indicates that women who combine motherhood with university education face increased time demands, limited institutional support, and economic constraints; factors that impact their well-being, academic performance, and autonomy in decision-making. Within the Honduran context, the absence of specific university support programs and policies, the lack of comprehensive services such as childcare facilities, and the persistence of patriarchal structures within educational institutions further deepen the vulnerability of this group. In response to this issue, the present study aims to evaluate the needs and opportunities for designing an empowerment program targeted at university student mothers in Tegucigalpa. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys administered to university student mothers and interviews with experts from governmental and non-governmental organizations, to identify barriers, digital competencies, available resources, and institutional gaps. Preliminary findings reveal significant deficiencies in academic support, access to technology, and inclusive policies, as well as the need to strengthen support networks and digital capacities to promote autonomy and female leadership. Based on this diagnosis, the study proposes an intervention model grounded in Zimmerman’s empowerment theory, which identifies three interdependent levels of empowerment.