Economic Empowerment and Women Decision Making: An analysis of the Impact of Financial Autonomy on the use of Contraceptives among Pakhtun Women

Abstract

Economic empowerment plays a significant role in the life and decision making process of women in societies around the world. Financial autonomy enables women to influence a range of decision including regarding their reproduction choices. This study was based on quantitative research design to investigate the role of financial autonomy woman in their contraceptive use and birth spacing in their children. The study was conducted in three tehsils of District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. A sample of 413 married women was selected through multi-stage random sampling technique. Primary, data was collected through interview schedule. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted to derive study findings and conclusion. Findings of the study showed that economically empowered women were taking equal part in financial decision-making of household and they have more freedom and autonomy of using contraceptives with respect to their counterparts. Further, those women whose decisions were valued regarding the purchasing of precious things for their houses had more freedom in using contraceptives, while the role of economically poor women were minimum in contraceptives use. The study suggests that provision of education, job opportunities and gender equality and awareness raising can enhance women’s financial autonomy which further affects their use of contraceptive uses positively.