scholarly journals Microfinance Services and Women Empowerment in Biratnagar Metropolitan, Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-270
Author(s):  
Bandana Kumari Jain
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Economic Empowerment ◽  
Women Empowerment ◽  
Household Decision ◽  
Household Decision Making ◽  
Nepali Women ◽  
Major Decision

This article examines how far microfinancing services positively affect the empowerment of Nepali women living in the eastern part of Nepal. A purposive sampling method was used and responses of 97 women were collected through structured questionnaires. The women were using microfinance services on their own and at least from the last three years. Results indicate that the use of microfinance services (credit and saving) helps women to empower. Easy access to financial services and satisfaction with the loan payment period causes no difference in the improvement of women’s empowerment. Saving service is significantly associated with women’s household decision-making, major decision-making in the domestic context, and availability of basic household needs. Microfinance services contribute to women’s socio-economic empowerment and their children’s education.

scholarly journals Women’s empowerment and fertility decision-making in 53 low and middle resource countries: a pooled analysis of demographic and health surveys

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e045952
Author(s):  
Rezwanul Haque ◽  
Khorshed Alam ◽  
Syed Mahbubur Rahman ◽  
Syed Afroz Keramat ◽  
Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Wife Beating ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Women Empowerment ◽  
Fertility Desire ◽  
Household Decision ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Household Decision Making ◽  
Ideal Number

ObjectiveWomen’s empowerment and its association with fertility preference are vital for central-level promotional health policy strategies. This study examines the association between women’s empowerment and fertility decision-making in low and middle resource countries (LMRCs).DesignThis cross-sectional study uses the Demographic and Health Survey database.Settings53 LMRCs from six different regions for the period ranging from 2006 to 2018.ParticipantsThe data of women-only aged 35 years and above is used as a unit of analysis. The final sample consists of 91 070 married women.MethodsWe considered two outcome variables: women’s perceived ideal number of children and their ability to achieve preferred fertility desire and the association with women empowerment. Women empowerment was measured by their participation in household decision-making and attitude towards wife-beating. The negative binomial regression model was used to assess women’s perceived ideal number of children, and multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate women’s ability to achieve their preferred fertility desire.ResultsOur study found that empowered women have a relatively low ideal number of children irrespective of the measures used to assess women empowerment. In this study, the measures were participation in household decision-making (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.92, 95% CI: 0.91 to 0.93) and attitude towards wife-beating (IRR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95 to 0.97). In the LMRCs, household decision-making and negative attitude towards wife-beating have been found associated with 1.12 and 1.08 times greater odds of having more than their ideal number of children.ConclusionOur findings suggest that women’s perceived fertility desire can be achieved by enhancing their empowerment. Therefore, a modified community-based family planning programme at the national level is required, highlighting the importance of women’s empowerment on reproductive healthcare as a part of the mission to assist women and couples to have only the number of children they desire.

scholarly journals Do empowered women receive better quality antenatal care in Pakistan? An analysis of demographic and health survey data

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0262323
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asim ◽  
Waqas Hameed ◽  
Sarah Saleem
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Women Empowerment ◽  
Household Decision ◽  
Household Decision Making ◽  
To Receive

Introduction Quality antenatal care is a window of opportunity for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. Numerous studies have shown a positive effect of women empowerment on improved coverage of maternal and reproductive health services, including antenatal care (ANC). However, there is scarce evidence on the association between women’s empowerment and improved ANC services both in terms of coverage and quality. Addressing this gap, this paper examines the relationship between multi-dimensional measures of women empowerment on utilization of quality ANC (service coverage and consultation) in Pakistan. Methods We used Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18 (PDHS) data which comprises of 6,602 currently married women aged between 15–49 years who had a live birth in the past five years preceding the survey. Our exposure variables were three-dimensional measures of women empowerment (social independence, decision making, and attitude towards domestic violence), and our outcome variables were quality of antenatal coverage [i.e. a composite binary measure based on skilled ANC (trained professional), timeliness (1st ANC visit during first trimester), sufficiency of ANC visits (4 or more)] and quality of ANC consultation (i.e. receiving at least 7 or more essential antenatal components out of 8). Data were analysed in Stata 16.0 software. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sample characteristics and binary logistic regression was employed to assess the association between empowerment and quality of antenatal care. Results We found that 41.4% of the women received quality ANC coverage and 30.6% received quality ANC consultations during pregnancy. After controlling for a number of socio-economic and demographic factors, all three measures of women’s empowerment independently showed a positive relationship with both outcomes. Women with high autonomy (i.e. strongly opposed the notion of violence) in the domain of attitude to violence are 1.66 (95% CI 1.30–2.10) and 1.45 (95% CI 1.19–1.75) and times more likely to receive antenatal coverage and quality ANC consultations respectively, compared with women who ranked low on attitude to violence. Women who enjoy high social independence had 1.87 (95% CI 1.44–2.43) and 2.78 (95% CI 2.04–3.79) higher odds of quality antenatal coverage and consultations respectively, as compared with their counterparts. Similarly, women who had high autonomy in household decision making 1.98 (95% CI 1.60–2.44) and 1.56 (95% CI 2.17–1.91) were more likely to receive quality antenatal coverage and consultation respectively, as compared to women who possess low autonomy in household decision making. Conclusion The quality of ANC coverage and consultation with service provider is considerably low in Pakistan. Women’s empowerment related to social independence, gendered beliefs about violence, and decision-making have an independent positive association with the utilisation of quality antenatal care. Thus, efforts directed towards empowering women could be an effective strategy to improve utilisation of quality antenatal care in Pakistan.

scholarly journals Does Microcredit Matter for Women Empowerment? A Household Level Study in Khulna District

2018 ◽  
pp. 9-22
Author(s):  
Md. Firoz Ahmed ◽  
Md. Shamim Molla ◽  
Nishad Nasrin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Multiple Regression Model ◽  
Wealth Accumulation ◽  
Women Empowerment ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Household Decision ◽  
Household Decision Making

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the nexus between microcredit and women empowerment from the dimensions of participation in household decision making, involvement in income generating activities and wealth accumulation; participation in household economic activities; consciousness and mobility; and women rights. Sampling Technique: A total of 80 women including 40 from microcredit takers and 40 from non-takers women were selected randomly to collect the data from two separate villages under Phultala Upazila of Khulna District. Methods: For data analysis, econometric models such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and multiple regression model were applied. Results: The result of multiple regression model shows that the microcredit taker women are better off regarding women empowerment related to household decision making, and income and wealth accumulation. Whereas, the women from non-taker households are in a better position in case of women empowerment related to participation in household economic activities, and consciousness and mobility. In addition to the role of microcredit on women empowerment, the study found that education of the women plays a significantly positive role in women empowerment while social restriction faced by the women negatively affect their empowerment. Recommendation: Better monitoring system, training and awareness building programs arranged by the microcredit providing organizations may play a significant role in strengthening women empowerment.

Working Women’s Decision-Making Power at Home: Evidence from Four North Indian Urban Clusters

Urbanisation ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 245574712110258
Author(s):  
Megan Maxwell ◽  
Milan Vaishnav
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Working Women ◽  
Human Agency ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Household Decision ◽  
Household Decision Making ◽  
Theoretical Foundations ◽  
Shed Light

Do working women enjoy greater levels of human agency? While the theoretical foundations underlying this connection are clear, the empirical evidence is quite mixed. We leverage detailed, new data on intra-household decision-making and labour market behaviour from four north Indian urban clusters to shed light on this question. We find that women who work exercise greater say in important decisions around the home. However, this ‘work advantage’ exhibits significant heterogeneity across decision types, decision-making domains, and definitions of work.

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