TY - RPRT AU - Tuladhar, Sabita AU - Khanal, Kabi Raj AU - K.C., Lila AU - Ghimire, Paban Kumar AU - Onta, Karuna CY - Calverton, Maryland, USA TI - Women's empowerment and spousal violence in relation to health outcomes in Nepal: Further Analysis of the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey T2 - DHS Further Analysis Reports No. 77 PB - ICF International PY - 2013 UR - http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FA77/FA77.pdf AB - Empowering women and addressing gender-based discrimination are key elements of the development agenda of the Nepal government and integral to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Spousal violence is one of the forms of gender-based violence prevalent in Nepal. The objective of this study is to understand women’s empowerment and spousal violence in relation to health outcomes of women and their children. The study analyzed data on 3,084 currently married women age 15- 49 from the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey. A composite Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) was developed that included five variables: i) household decision-making, ii) ownership of land or house, iii) membership in community group, iv) proportion earning cash, and v) women’s education. The WEI classified women into three empowerment levels, whereby 17, 48, and 35 percent of married women were in high, moderate, and low empowerment levels, respectively. Variations in women’s empowerment were distinct by age, caste/ethnicity, and wealth quintile. Less empowered women and women who had experienced spousal violence were more likely to have anemic children. Children of women who had experienced spousal violence had lower odds of being immunized, even after adjusting for related factors. These findings suggest that women’s empowerment and spousal violence appear to have important implications for the health of women and their children. It is recommended that a holistic approach to improving the health of women and children in Nepal incorporate multi-sectoral programming to promote women’s empowerment and reduce gender-based violence. N1 - For assistance using downloaded citations from The DHS Program, please visit http://dhsprogram.com/publications/Citing-DHS-Publications.cfm. This report presents findings from a further analysis study undertaken as part of the follow-up to the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Funding for the further analysis of the survey was provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). ICF International provided technical assistance for the survey and further analysis, and New ERA provided in-country coordination and technical assistance through the MEASURE DHS program, a USAID-funded project providing support and technical assistance in the implementation of population and health surveys in countries worldwide. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US government or other funding agencies. This report is part of the MEASURE DHS program, which is designed to collect, analyze, and disseminate data on fertility,family planning, maternal and child health, nutrition, and HIV/AIDS. Additional information about the 2011 NDHS may be obtained from the Population Division, Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal, Ramshahpath, Kathmandu, Nepal; telephone: (977-1) 4262987; and from New ERA, P.O. Box 722, Kathmandu, Nepal; telephone: (977-1)4423176/4413603; fax: (977-1) 4419562; e-mail: info@newera.com.np. Information about the DHS program may be obtained from MEASURE DHS, ICF International, 11785 Beltsville Drive, Suite 300, Calverton, MD 20705, USA; telephone: 301-572-0200; fax: 301-572- 0999; e-mail: reports@measuredhs.com; Internet: http://www.measuredhs.com. ER -