Factors Influencing the Patterns of Dominance in Decision- Making for the Use of Fertility Control: Evidence From the 1998 Sadhs
Year: 2008
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Context: Although over half of married South African women of reproductive age (15-49 \nyears) use a method of fertility control, 15 percent of them have an unmet need for family \nplanning. Women’s unmet need for family planning is often attributed to traditional norms \nascribing decision-making power to men. However, rural-urban migration, exposure to \nwestern style education; constitutional guarantee of gender equity and exposure to \noutside influences via the internet and mass media make such an assumption untenable \nin contemporary society. \nMethod: Using logistic regression, eight models are separately fitted for the independent \nvariables related to the background and socio-economic characteristics of the woman; \nthe characteristics of the husband; their comparative characteristics; sexual and \nreproductive factors; sources of information and communication; reproductive as well as \nHIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes. The final model, using backward stepwise analysis, \nestimates the effects of the factors associated with a joint or a male vs. a female pattern \nof dominance in decision-making about using fertility control. \nResults: The final model shows that joint decision-making is positively correlated with \nfifth or higher birth order, being raised in a town, living in a household in the middle \nwealth quintile, having between four and five children; using fertility control to limit births \ngetting a lot of information about HIV/AIDS from the husband, spousal discussions about \nfamily planning and not knowing whether good nutrition stops HIV transmission. Male \ndominance is positively associated with having only one union, having the same amount \nof education as the husband or not knowing how much education he has, spousal \ncommunication about family planning, first marriage occurring 5-19 years ago, not \nknowing if the condom was used at last intercourse, knowing that condoms are used for \nfamily planning only, not getting information about family planning from posters and \nirregular exposure to the radio. \nConclusions: In the era of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and emphasis on the reproductive \nhealth approach in family planning, there is a need for studies, at the local level, that \ninclude both individuals in the relationship. Qualitative studies focusing on the nature, \ncontext and content of couple communication about sexuality and reproduction can \nprovide important information about gender relationships in the South African context. \nThere is also a need to understand the effect of gender and community norms on sexual \nand reproductive decision-making. Studies on HIV discordant couples can provide \nimportant information on the impact of the epidemic on sexual and reproductive decisionmaking. \nStudies focusing on family formation can provide information on the impact of \nsocial change on intergenerational and gender relationships as well as trends in \nreproductive attitudes and behaviours in transitional South African society
Author: Christine A. Glover-Walton
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2129457044