Differences in the perception of comunnity needs by gender of the household administrator for university-comunnity engagement projetcs

Abstract

Engagement with society fosters the exchange of knowledge between the university and its surroundings, facilitating the integration of theory and practice. This engagement commits university members to external sectors, both public and private, at local, regional, national, and international levels, with the aim of broadening their reach and achieving sustainability and impact. This research aims to identify the community needs perceived by male and female household administrators in the Urbanor sector of Guayaquil, serving as a baseline for university-community engagement projects. The methodology employed is quantitative and descriptive. The sample consists of 93 households. A t-test was applied to compare statistics between male-administered and female-administered households. The results indicate that female-administered households have a higher number of members, report a lower socioeconomic status, and identify domestic violence and child support counseling as sector needs. The authors conclude that there are different needs in households administered by males and females, and thus university interventions should focus on identifying specific needs, avoiding general programs that may overlook these differences.