The trends of women’s autonomy in health care decision making and associated factors in Ethiopia: evidence from 2005, 2011 and 2016 DHS data

Abstract

Background Women's autonomy in health care decision-making is very crucial for the well-being of women themselves, their children, and the entire family members. Although studying the issue is significant to take proper interventions, the issue is not studied at a nationwide level in Ethiopia. Accordingly, this population-based nationwide study was aimed at assessing the trends of women’s autonomy in health care decision-making and its associated factors in Ethiopia. Method The sample was limited to married women of 2005 (n = 8617), 2011 (n = 10,168), and 2016 (n = 9824) Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data. Women's autonomy in health care decision-making was measured based on their response to the question ‘person who usually decides on respondent's health care. To examine associated factors, socio-demographic variables were computed using multinomial logistic regression. Result The finding revealed that the trend of women’s autonomy in health care decision-making had declined from 18.7% in 2005 to 17.2% in 2011 albeit it had risen to 19.1% in 2016. The autonomy of women who resides in urban areas was 98.7% higher than rural residents, and those who live in the Tigray region, Somali region, and Addis Ababa are 76.6%, 79.7%, and 95.7% higher than who live in Dire Dawa respectively. Unemployed women, women aged from 15 to 24 years, and uneducated women were 45.1%, 32.4%, and 32.2% less likely autonomous in health care decision making respectively. Conclusion The autonomy of women in health care decision-making had declined from 2005 to 2011. Therefore, the role of stakeholders in taking possible interventions like empowering women shall be strengthened. This is to protect women from certain health problems as well as for the well-being of women themselves, their children, and the entire family members.

Decision-making autonomy in maternal health service use and associated factors among women in Mettu District, Southwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

“…This study shows that women’s age was significantly associated with women’s decision-making autonomy regarding maternal healthcare services. Accordingly, it is found that women’s autonomy to make their own health-related decisions increases with age, which is in line with a study done using the EDHS 25. Several studies in low-income and middle-income countries have also indicated that women’s increasing age has a favourable impact on their autonomy to make health-related decisions on their own 2.…”

“…Accordingly, it is found that women’s autonomy to make their own health-related decisions increases with age, which is in line with a study done using the EDHS. 25 Several studies in low-income and middle-income countries have also indicated that women’s increasing age has a favourable impact on their autonomy to make health-related decisions on their own. 2 Other studies have also demonstrated the influence of age on women’s autonomy.…”

“… 24 Evidence from the EDHS indicated that Ethiopian women’s autonomy in healthcare decision making was generally declining from 2005 to 2016. 25 According to the 2016 EDHS, only 15.4% of Ethiopians were autonomous in household decision making and used health services to meet reproductive health goals, including safe motherhood. Women who did not participate in any household decisions and those who did not have freedom of movement were much less likely to receive antenatal care, delivery care from a skilled provider and postnatal check-ups.…”

“…The use of maternal healthcare was linked to women’s autonomy in household decision making in studies based on the Ethiopian Demography and Health Survey (EDHS) from 2005 24. Evidence from the EDHS indicated that Ethiopian women’s autonomy in healthcare decision making was generally declining from 2005 to 2016 25. According to the 2016 EDHS, only 15.4% of Ethiopians were autonomous in household decision making and used health services to meet reproductive health goals, including safe motherhood.…”

Maternal autonomy and associated factors in making decision to utilize health service for themselves and neonates in south Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional survey

“…Besides this, this finding is lower than the study done in part of Ethiopia like Wollaita and Dawro zones (58.4%) [ 19 ],(Ambo town (55.6%) [ 20 ], Debretabor (75.1%) [ 22 ], analysis from the Ethiopian demographic health survey(EDHS) 2011 (54%) [ 33 ], Basoliben district (80%) [ 34 ] and further analysis of the EDHS 2016 reported that (81.6%) of women had higher decision-making autonomy [ 35 ].…”