Women’s Involvement in Decision Making and Unmet Need for Contraception In Indonesia

Abstract

Background: The issue of gender inequality in reproductive health has a role in determining contraceptiveuse in women. Gender issues related to inequality in decision making are the main context in family planninginterventions. The purpose of this study is to assess women’s participation in decision making and its relationto unmet need.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using IDHS data in 2012. The study involved 1516 womenof childbearing age (15-49 years) with married categories in areas with high unmet need (West Papua) andthe lowest unmet need area (Bangka Belitung).Results: Married women in the Bangka Belitung region have more power in decision making than marriedwomen in West Papua. Involvement in economic matters and the decision to use contraception as the mostdominant factor and involvement in the household have a significant relationship with the occurrence ofunmet need, as well as education, wealth, and experience in using contraception related to unmet need. whileage, fertility preference, husband’s desire to have children, and involvement in health and mobility were notdirectly related to unmet need.Conclusions: Better participation in decision making is higher for women in the Bangka Belitung regionthan in Papua. Empowerment of women in terms of the economy and the use of contraception needs to beimproved so that they have power in decision making.