Women’s Autonomy and Its Correlates in Western Nepal: A Demographic Study

Abstract

Despite various efforts for enhancing women’s autonomy in developing countries, many women are deprived of their capacity in decision-making on their household affairs as well as social issues. This paper aimed to examine women’s autonomy and its associated factors in the Kapilvastu district of Nepal. We measured women’s autonomy using a recently developed women’s autonomy measurement scale from June to October 2014. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test and logistic multivariate modeling technique were applied for assessing the association of demographic and socio-economic characteristics of women and their autonomy. Mean score for women’s autonomy was 23.34± 8.06 out of the possible maximum 48. It was found to be positively associated with higher age difference at marriage, advantaged caste/ethnicity, better employment for the husband, couple’s education more than 10 years schooling, and higher economic status of the household. We found strong direct effect of women’s education (OR = 8.14, CI = 3.77–17.57), husband’s education (OR = 2.63, CI = 1.69–4.10) and economic status of household (OR = 1.42, CI = 1.01–2.03) on women’s autonomy. When we adjusted women’s education for husband’s education, the odds ratio decreased by around 22% {from (OR = 8.14, CI = 3.77–17.57) to (OR = 6.32, CI = 2.77–14.46)} and was a mediator effect. The economic status of household also had mediator effect on women’s autonomy through their education. Education status of women is a key predictor of women’s autonomy in Kapilvastu district. Husband’s education and economic status of the household are other important predictors of women’s autonomy which have a mediator effect on women’s autonomy. Improving educational status and economic conditions of both women and their husbands may be the best solution to promote women’s autonomy.

Young women's attitude toward gender-equitable norms on domestic chores and violence domains in Trivandrum

“…Despite the higher levels of educational attainment of women in Kerala, they had less autonomy in their reproductive and household decision-making. [ 18 ] The current study also shows the same observations. Almost all women reported that women have the same right as men to study as much as they want and to work outside the home.…”

Empowerment of married women for social changes in a selected community of Kathmandu valley

“…6 Low score of 23.34± 8.06 for women's autonomy is also reported from the study conducted in Kapilvastu district in western Nepal. 3 The high level of empowerment in our study could be because of the study participants were from urban community in Lalitpur Metropolitan city in Kathmandu valley, the capital of Nepal.…”

“…2 The study conducted in Kapilvastu district in western Nepal revealed that mean score for women's autonomy was low, 23.34± 8.06. 3 The objective of this study was to identify the women's empowerment for social changes in the selected urban community of Lalitpur metropolitan city in Kathmandu valley, Nepal.…”

Educational Empowerment and Use of Antenatal Services

“…The antenatal care, delivery by skilled birth attendant and care during postnatal period are included in essential maternal healthcare services. During pregnancy the care which is received by pregnant women from trained healthcare professionals that include 4-5 visits if women have no other medical problems as recommended by World Health Organization [6,7,8] (WHO) is termed antenatal care . This study aimed to determine the utilization of antenatal services by the reproductive age women of urban slum areas and association of women's education with antenatal care use.…”