Determinants of Profitability and Sales Growth Among Women-Led Broiler Poultry SMEs in Chongwe District, Zambia: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Case Study

Davies Mike Sitali and Attridge Mwelwa
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Davies Mike Sitali: University of Zambia
Attridge Mwelwa: Independent Scholar

African Journal of Commercial Studies, 2026, vol. 7, issue 3

Abstract: This study examined the performance of women-led broiler poultry SMEs in Chongwe District, Zambia, with a focus on profitability, sales growth, and business survival beyond 12 months. Four objectives guided the research: to establish enterprise performance levels and patterns; determine the influence of access to finance on profitability, sales growth, and survival; examine the effect of market access on enterprise outcomes; and analyse the influence of socio-cultural responsibilities on business performance. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design (QUAN = QUAL), the study first analyzed survey data from women-led broiler poultry SMEs in Chongwe District (n = 35), followed by semi-structured interviews with a purposive subsample (n = 30). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression, and logistic regression, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings revealed moderate but uneven enterprise performance, with mean profitability of 25.87% and sales growth of 25.25%, while 84.4% of businesses survived beyond 12 months. Access to finance significantly improved profitability (β = 0.425, p

Keywords: Women-led SMEs; Broiler poultry enterprises; Profitability; Sales growth; Business survival; Access to finance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 L26 M21 Q13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cwk:ajocsk:2026-89

DOI: 10.59413/ajocs/v7.i3.19

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