Correlates of Female Sterilization in Bihar: Does Women’s Empowerment Matter?

Abstract

Female sterilization is the most emphasized and utilized method of family planning in India. Recently, Bihar, one of India’s most socially and economically disadvantaged states, has garnered national and international attention for government prompted, coercive measures to sterilize impoverished women (MacAskill, 2013; Human Rights Watch, 2012). Using data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), this study examined the association between factors of women’s empowerment and female sterilization controlling for sociodemographic characteristics in the state of Bihar. Logistic regression analysis was restricted to women from Bihar aged 15–49 (N = 1165) who reported using some method of contraception. The strength of association was estimated by calculating the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Sixty-eight percent of the women in the sample reported being sterilized. The women, on average were 34 years old and 50% of the women reported having no formal education. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, women with more than a 10th grade education were 73% less likely to report being sterilized compared to women with no education (OR 0.27; CI 0.14–0.52), controlling for other variables. Additionally, women who delayed marriage were significantly less likely to report being sterilized (OR 0.89; CI 0.85–0.95), controlling for other variables. Women’s out-of-home employment and intrahousehold decision-making were not statistically significant correlates of sterilization status. Age and religious affiliation were significant sociodemographic correlates of sterilization. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.