Influence of the Sociodemographic and Reproductive Characteristics on Reproductive Autonomy Among Women

Abstract

Objective to analyze the influence of the sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics on reproductive autonomy among women through the subscales of the Reproductive Autonomy Scale. Method an analytical and cross-sectional study with a stratified sample composed of 346 female rural workers registered in Chapéu de Palha Mulher Program in Pernambuco. Data collection occurred in the month of February 19th and February 23rd, 2018. The National Health Survey questionnaire and the Reproductive Autonomy Scale were used. The data were analyzed using simple and multiple linear regression analyses. Results the women presented high reproductive autonomy with the lowest autonomy being observed in relation to the “Communication” construct. Marital status, education level, skin color/race, participation in a family planning group, and having already being pregnant are significant variables for total reproductive autonomy. Conclusion the full reproductive autonomy of rural women can be influenced by sociodemographic and reproductive variables. One of the ways to increase reproductive autonomy among the women in this study would be through an intervention aimed at health education on sexual and reproductive rights and power and gender relations so that women can be guided, obtain more information on these topics, and correlate them with reproductive autonomy.

Associação entre as características sociodemográficas e reprodutivas com a autonomia reprodutiva das trabalhadoras rurais

“…As limitações desta pesquisa decorrem das características do método epidemiológico escolhido, uma vez que a coleta de dados sobre exposição e desfecho ocorre em um único momento no tempo, não permitindo inferir causalidade entres as variáveis e os desfechos. Outro desafio foi a comparabilidade dos achados, por serem identificados poucos estudos na literatura utilizando a Escala de Autonomia Reprodutiva (3,10,12,14,19,29) . Isso resultou em limitação na comparabilidade dos resultados deste estudo com os encontrados na literatura.…”

“…A concretização de fato sobre a autonomia reprodutiva da mulher aponta a importância de se aprofundar a discussão, principalmente, voltada para grupos populacionais com maior vulnerabilidade socioeconômica e cultural, como é o caso das mulheres nas regiões rurais que apresentam perfil ainda marcado pela ideologia patriarcal, desigualdades de gênero e poder (12) . Apesar de serem encontrados estudos internacionais sobre autonomia reprodutiva, a relevância desta pesquisa se dá também pela escassez de estudos nacionais utilizando este tema, na medida que foram localizados apenas cinco artigos brasileiros (9)(10)(12)(13)(14) . Deste modo, o estudo tem como questão de pesquisa: as características sociodemográficas e reprodutivas das trabalhadoras rurais estão associadas à sua autonomia reprodutiva?…”

Association between rural workers’ sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics and their reproductive autonomy

“…The limitations of this research stem from the characteristics of the epidemiological method chosen, since data collection on exposure and outcome occurs at a single moment in time, not allowing to infer causality between variables and outcomes. Another challenge was the comparability of the findings, because few studies are identified in the literature using the Reproductive Autonomy Scale (3,10,12,14,19,29) . This resulted in a limitation in the comparability of the results of this study with those found in the literature.…”

“…The realization of a fact about women's reproductive autonomy points to the importance of deepening the discussion, mainly focused on population groups with greater socioeconomic and cultural vulnerability, as is the case of women in rural regions, whose profile is still marked by patriarchal ideology, gender and power inequalities (12) .…”

“…Although international studies on reproductive autonomy are found, the relevance of this research is also due to the scarcity of national studies using this theme, as only five Brazilian articles (9)(10)(12)(13)(14) were found. Thus, the study has as research question: are rural workers' sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics associated with their reproductive autonomy?…”