Transformación participativa de los factores asociados a la deserción escolar en mujeres jovenes de la vereda bajo grande del municipio de San Antero, Córdoba

Abstract

This study examined the factors associated with school dropout among young women enrolled in the “Los Gatitos” Community Care Unit (UCA), located in Bajo Grande, a village in the municipality of San Antero, Córdoba. The issue relates to the difficulties participants face in continuing their education due to various barriers, such as institutional, family, social, and economic vulnerability. This research is grounded in the critical social paradigm, employing a qualitative approach and a Participatory Action Research (PAR) design. The methods used to collect data included semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and field notes, applied to a sample of eight young women. The results were analyzed using categories of institutional, family, socioeconomic, and personal factors, employing data triangulation to strengthen the analysis of the findings. The results showed that dropping out of school stems from a series of causes, among which economic constraints, family responsibilities, early motherhood, and insufficient institutional flexibility significantly influence their decision to leave school. Likewise, the participatory action phase helped strengthen the participants’ self-esteem, self-care, and life plans, fostering a more positive attitude toward continuing their education. The study concludes that school retention requires comprehensive strategies involving family support, institutional backing, and personal reinforcement that promote the re-enrollment and continued education of young women in rural settings.