Women’s autonomy in refusing risky sex and associated factors in Ethiopia: evidence from 2011 to 2016 EDHS data

Abstract

Background Risky sexual behavior is a major public health concern of Ethiopians. Although studying the autonomy of women in refusing risky sex is significant to take proper actions, the issue is not yet studied. Accordingly, this population-based nationwide study was aimed at assessing women’s autonomy in refusing risky sex and its associated factors in Ethiopia. Method The sample was limited to married women of 2011 (n = 8369) and 2016 (n = 8403) Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data. Women's autonomy in refusing risky sex was measured based on wives' response to 'not having sex because husbands have other women. To examine associated factors, socio-demographic variables were computed using binary logistic regression. Result The finding revealed that the trend of women’s autonomy in refusing risky sex had declined from 78.9% in 2011 to 69.5% in 2016. Women aged from 25 to 34 were less likely autonomous in refusing sex compared to those who aged less than 24 years old (AOR = .7064; 95% CI 0.605, 0.965). The autonomy of women with higher educational status was three times more likely higher than those who have no formal education (AOR = 3.221; 95% CI 1.647, 6.300 respectively. The autonomy of women who are from rich households was more likely higher in comparison to women from poor households (AOR = 1.523; 95% CI 1.28, 1.813). The autonomy of women those who live in Tigray 2.9 times (AOR = 2.938; 95% CI 2.025, 4.263), Amhara 4.8 times (AOR = 4.870; 95% CI 3.388, 7.000), SNNP 1.9 times (AOR = 1.900; 95% CI 1.355, 2.664), and Addis Ababa 3.8 times (AOR = 3.809; 95% CI 2.227, 6.516) more likely higher than those who reside in Dire Dawa. Conclusion The autonomy of women in refusing risky sex has declined from 2011 to 2016. This infers that currently, women are more victimized than previously. Hence, possible interventions like empowering women shall be taken to protect women from certain health problems of risky sexual behavior.

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

“…The autonomy of women who live in Tigray, Somali and Addis Ababa was more likely higher in health care decision making than those who live in Dire Dawa city administration respectively. Similar to this study finding, other related studies [ 8 , 15 , 18 , 27 ] found a significant difference of women's autonomy across different geographic regional states. This might be because of the contributions and commitments of regional governments in empowering women may vary from one to another.…”

“…The autonomy of women who were aged 15–24 years was found a lower position (by 32.4%) than women from 35 to 49 years of age. Corresponding to this study’s finding, others studies which focused on women’s autonomy in health care decision making [ 8 , 10 , 17 , 18 , 29 ], household decision making [ 15 ], refusing risky sex [ 27 ] and on reproductive human rights [ 37 ] the age of respondents had significant effect. This might be due to the fact that “older age is associated with decreases in self-esteem” [ 38 ].…”

“…Women's autonomy in health care decision-making had declined from 18.7% in 2005 to 17.2% in 2011 though it also had risen to 19.1% in 2016. In the same way, the other study that focused on the autonomy of women in health care decision making revealed a declination trend of women’s autonomy in refusing risky sex [ 27 ]. This declination of women’s autonomy might be associated with the enactment of restrictive legislation of the country in 2009 that potentially diminish the role of civil society organizations in promoting democratic values [ 28 ].…”

Multi-level predictors of sexual autonomy among married women in Nigeria

“…Figure 1 presents the three sets of explanatory variables analysed. Firstly, seven individual-level characteristics already identified as important correlates of sexual and reproductive autonomy in existing studies [ 26 , 40 , 42 – 44 ] were selected. These are maternal age group (15–24, 25–34, and 35 +), maternal education level (none, primary, secondary, and higher), nature of first marriage (child marriage or not child marriage), parity (primiparity, multiparity, and grand multiparity), work status (employed or unemployed), religion (Islam or Christianity), and media exposure (low, moderate, and high).…”

Men’s Attitude Towards Contraception and Sexuality, Women’s Empowerment, and Demand Satisfied for Family Planning in India

“…In addition, women’s empowerment approaches that promote economic decision making, negotiation of sexual activity, or perceived agreement on fertility preferences were also related to higher contraception use in selected African countries ( Do and Kurimoto 2012 ). Women’s empowerment was also related to increase in attitudes for safer sex negotiation in several countries from South Asia and SSA, although the association vary across countries and age or other demographic characteristics ( Tenkorang 2012 ; Atteraya, Kimm, and Song 2014 ; Jesmin and Cready 2014 ; Sano et al, 2018 ; Asabu 2021 ; Putra, Dendup, and Januraga 2021 ).…”