Women’s Autonomy and Its Correlates in Western Nepal: A Demographic Study
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Date
2016-02
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PLoS ONE
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
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Citation
Bhandari TR, Kutty VR, Ravindran TKS. Women’s Autonomy and Its Correlates in Western Nepal: A Demographic Study. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(1)