Women's Empowerment and its Impact on Key RCH Indicators in Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Presented at the 25th Annual Conference of the Indian Association for the Study of Population held in February 2002 in Mumbai India this study assessed the relationship of womens autonomy and their involvement in decision making with fertility regulation activities in Madhya Pradesh. Data were collected from the second National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2) conducted in 1998-99. In order to measure womens participation in household decision making NFHS-2 asked women to report who in their households makes decisions about the following: what items to cook obtaining health care purchasing jewelry or other major household items going and staying with parents and siblings and domestic violence. The survey also asked women who earns money and who decides how that money is spent. From this information five dimensions of autonomy are computed. These include domestic autonomy mobility autonomy economic autonomy domestic violence and womens empowerment. Overall the findings suggest that program managers should focus more concern to improve womens status in the society. The development efforts must be taken to improve adult literacy rural-urban disparities and also promotion of womens economic activities.