| Women’s Empowerment as a Correlate of Contraceptive Use in Nigeria |
| Authors: |
B. L. Solanke, P. O. Ogunjuyigbe, and D. A. Shobanke |
| Source: |
Journal of Research in International Development, 12(1):120-131 |
| Topic(s): |
Contraception
Women's autonomy
Women’s empowerment
|
| Country: |
Africa
Nigeria
|
| Published: |
JUN 2014 |
| Abstract: |
The relationship between women’s empowerment and contraceptive use has not been sufficiently examined in Nigeria. This study therefore examines the association between women’s empowerment and contraceptive use in the country. Quantitative data was extracted from the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Data was analysed using the chi-square statistic and binary logistic regression with the aid of STATA software. Results show that: women’s control over own health care ( visits to friends/relatives ( women’s participation in decision about household large purchases women’s participation in decision about household purchases for daily needs and women’s education were significantly associated with contraceptive use. Results confirmed that empowered women were more likely to use contraceptive than unempowered women. For instance: women who have full control over own healthcare were 68% more likely to use contraceptive than women who had no control over own health care (OR = 1.6824, p<0.01); and women who had full participation in decision about household daily purchases were 148% more likely to use contraceptive than women who did not participate in the decision (OR = 2.74875, p<0.01). The study concluded that women’s empowerment has significant influence on contraceptive use. Fostering an enabling environment for women to realise their full economic potential is not only a key challenge to governments at all levels in the country, but it is also required for accelerated growth in national contraceptive prevalence rate.
Keywords: Autonomy, contraceptive use, empowerment, decision making |
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