Power Differentials Research Articles

Prison Education Is Dangerous

ABSTRACTIn this chapter, I argue that prison education is dangerous. In a context where individual incarcerated people have restricted autonomy, non‐incarcerated students, staff, and faculty from colleges and universities can cause real harm by neglecting to consider the vast power differentials between non‐ or never‐incarcerated educators and students in prison.

Young people’s lived sexual and reproductive health citizenship: participation and power of youth in Malawi

ABSTRACT This qualitative, focused critical ethnographic study explores how young people’s ‘lived SRH citizenship’ and their active roles realising their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights, shape their agency and participation in decision-making in Malawi. Informed by postcolonial feminist and difference-centred citizenship theories, our findings reveal that age-based power differentials, systems of gerontocracy and a culture of adultism impede bona fide youth involvement in SRH policymaking, making young citizens’ participation more of an illusion than reality. Although democratisation and decentralisation aim to promote youth engagement, SRH policy spaces/processes lack institutionalised processes for integrating youth and remain dominated by donors and government. Collective efforts to build young citizens’ capacity and to support their engagement are essential for realising their active and meaningful participation in SRH decision-making. Recognising youth as equal members of society is vital to expose systemic gerontocracy/adultism, and democratise power to youth in Malawi, and beyond.

Enlisting toddler cooperation through structure and autonomy support: The amplifying role of suboptimal relationship mutuality.

Regular repair of normative mother-toddler conflict is required for relational health; yet, we still need improved delineation of regulation strategies that can promote child cooperation. Contemporary conceptualizations of positive parenting propose that structure and autonomy support each facilitate children's optimal engagement; however, toddler studies rarely address their joint impact and conditional moderation. This observational study examined both dimensions in predicting cooperation among 106 U.S. 30-month-olds and their primarily European-American mothers during a demanding request situation. We also assessed mutuality, an indicator of mother-child relationship quality, from two situations with minimized power differentials to explore whether it moderated associations. Regression analyses confirmed the unique and additive impact of both maternal behavioral dimensions in predicting toddler cooperation and also an interaction effect such that the positive association between maternal autonomy support and toddlers' level of cooperation was accentuated depending on the dyads' mutuality. Results suggest that maternal structure and autonomy support may serve as effective approaches for enlisting or maintaining child cooperation during hierarchical negotiations, and that suboptimal relationship mutuality magnifies toddlers' responses to maternal levels of autonomy support. Findings are likely relevant to parenting programs that advance mother-child relational health during the transition from infancy to early childhood.

Finding My Penis in the Counselling Room

The powerful cultural discourses within which we live, and the stereotypical gender constructions that impinge upon each one of us, produce internalised power relations that can be both oppressive and liberating. We internalise power dynamics which we enact within ourselves and in relations with others. Such power differentials also converge or collide in the counselling room. It is therefore vital that counsellors practise with a clear and deep self-awareness of both our own internal insecurities and absorbed gender constructions. As a female counsellor grappling with these challenges, I decided to write this article using colloquialisms for male genitalia as a metaphorical attempt to resist such stereotypes and share my own vulnerabilities that impact upon my practice. This is an invitation to other practitioners to embrace their tender spots and bring them into connection with others.

Heritage Regeneration Models for Traditional Courtyard Houses in a Northern Chinese City (Jinan) in the Context of Urban Renewal

The fundamental disputes in urban heritage regeneration stem from variations in power dynamics and inherent value systems among stakeholders. Addressing conflicts and power differentials involving governmental bodies, market forces, community residents, experts, and scholars is crucial for fostering sustainable urban heritage development. Recently, these contradictions have grown more pronounced as China’s urbanization has transitioned from rapid expansion to a phase focused on existing urban assets. In the present research, the typical traditional courtyard-style residential buildings in Jinan, a historic city in northern China, were selected as the object of study. These houses often suffer from problems such as outdated infrastructure and low living conditions and have become difficult to adapt to contemporary urban life. A case study approach was employed focusing on a representative courtyard house to develop models for renewing and regenerating urban heritage, specifically tailored to traditional courtyard houses. The aim was to address conflicts and power disparities among urban heritage stakeholders through diverse mechanisms. Methodologically, the research integrates historical study and field investigation, participatory analysis, and policy analysis. Primary data sources include field surveys, historical research, oral interviews, and drone aerial photography. Models were constructed in the present study—namely, the heritage self-renewal, heritage revitalization, and heritage transformation models—for traditional courtyard houses. These models were designed to foster sustainable urban heritage development through collaborative efforts across various stakeholders and administrative levels. They will optimize the renewal mechanism of urban heritage, thus providing diversity and multiple possibilities for the preservation and reuse of architectural heritage in China. They aim to realize comprehensive urban heritage values, including vitality, health, efficiency, and equity, while accommodating the interests of diverse stakeholders.

Inquiry for Social Transformation: Black Mother Scholars Redefining Scholarly Inquiry Through Black Artistic Expression

Writing, dancing, drawing, spittin’ rhymes, and other artistic expressions have long offered us, Black mother scholars, opportunities to reaffirm our humanity amid oppression (Fearon, 2023). Art offers Black mother scholars space to reconceptualise inquiry in ways that engage our families, challenge injustices, and usher social change within the educational milieu and beyond. The centring of Black artistic expression in educational research invites Black mother scholars to affirm the parts of ourselves, our families, and our communities that dominant forms of inquiry and anti-Blackness have sought to discredit. Educational research grounded in Black artistic expression compels us all to reimagine scholarly inquiry for social transformation. In this paper, I critically reflect on an arts-informed research study I led with a group of Black Canadian mothers who are adult literacy learners. In this reflexive piece, I explore how grounding research practices in Black art allows opportunities for storytelling, story listening, and Black refusal. Specifically, this paper explores the ways Black art supports researchers in addressing power differentials inherent in inquiry processes. The paper concludes with a series of reflective questions challenging scholars, especially Black mother scholars, to redefine traditional academic boundaries and recommit to social transformation through the arts.

Women entrepreneurs in rural Nigeria: formal versus informal credit schemes

PurposeThis study examines why low-wealth women entrepreneurs forgo mobile enabled money services and government supported micro finance for informal, community-based revolving loans in rural Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThematic analysis of 25 interviews with women in rural, south-west Nigeria. Entrepreneurial ecosystem theory, in the gendered context of micro finance and community-based lending, is employed.FindingsThis study explains the paradox of forgoing seemingly accessible mobile enabled credit, and formal credit schemes (e.g. micro-finance programs) for informal, one-on-one borrowing. Convenience and trust-based relationships with respected community members ease the burden of time scarcity and vulnerability associated with formal capital. Flexible terms, autonomy, self-reliance and knowing who one is dealing with make Esusu a preferred source of finance. Findings are discussed in the context of gendered entrepreneurial ecosystems in which participants conduct business.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is not representative of women entrepreneurs in rural Nigeria. Survivorship bias is acknowledged. Further research is needed on the psychological risks of informal capital and the benefits of community-based lending.Practical implicationsMeasures to scale mobile enabled credit, without commensurate interventions to address time management and other structural issues that confront women traders, limit their utility and impacts. Power differentials between women traders and lenders must also be considered in the design of lending products. Training of women traders and formal lenders should incorporate curricula about gender gaps in capital markets and systematic gender challenges to support entrepreneurs who seek to grow beyond subsistence enterprises.Originality/valueThis study documents decision criteria that motivate informal rural women traders to employ community-based revolving credit or Esusu. Findings inform measures to increase women entrepreneurs' access to capital in a rural sub-Saharan Africa contexts.

An effective imaging based diagnosis of Solar Photovoltaic System and performance parameters for smart solar power grid

Another of the most attractive power generation sources for residential, corporate, and commercial operations is energy production. Due to this compelling qualities, photovoltaic systems (PV) electricity production have increasingly attracted the attention of researchers and professionals. Nonetheless, the greatest obstacle in generating energy from the sun is the predictable discontinuous output power from photovoltaic (PV) systems, which is largely caused by climate. The power differential of a photovoltaic panels may considerably reduce the financial profit of large scale solar fields. For everyday proper management of electricity supply production, distribution, and storing as well as for judgement on the electricity market, results were consistent prediction of the electricity output of solar PV systems is essential. The 5 subjects mentioned in this article are: The varied faults which might occur in PV panels; internet Photovoltaic panels monitoring; Use of machine learning approaches in Photovoltaic module damage detection; Advantages of fault diagnosis in PV panels and the various motion sensors used for this purpose are discussed. Recommendation for future possible research paths are given in view of the evaluated research.

Exploring the Relationship Between Voice Disorders in Indian Classical Music and the Guru-Shishya Parampara Through an Understanding of the Autonomic Nervous System

ABSTRACT The Guru-Shishya Parampara (GSP), translated as the teacher-student tradition, is a lineage-based oral tradition in Indian Classical Music (ICM). This study explores the relationship between GSP’s traditional obedience-authority dynamic and prevalent voice disorders experienced by ICM practitioners. Combining Constructivist Grounded Theory document analysis and a narrative literature review, the research investigates how disciplinarian tendencies and power differentials in authoritarian implementations of the GSP may contribute to or reinforce voice disorders resulting from psychological strain. Adopting the Indigenous Research Paradigm, the study prioritizes insights from ICM practitioners’ lived experiences within the cultural context of ICM within the analysis. A narrative review of existing literature on the links between autonomic nervous system responses associated with psychological stressors and voice disorders is discussed to further understand the impact of authoritarian GSPs on singers’ voices. Literature on compassion is additionally explored to discuss potential solutions to address the identified issues. Through this approach, the study offers insights into the complex interactions between power dynamics, psychological strain, and voice disorders within obedience-expectant GSPs, aiming to contribute to the development of effective interventions, highlighting that which already exists within ICM culture, to promote vocal health and overall well-being in this ancient and culturally significant tradition.

Relationship between dominance hierarchy steepness and rank-relatedness of benefits in primates.

In animal social groups, the extent to which individuals consistently win agonistic interactions and their ability to monopolize resources represent 2 core aspects of their competitive regime. However, whether these two aspects are closely correlated within groups has rarely been studied. Here, we tested the hypothesis that hierarchy steepness, which is generally used to represent power differentials between group members, predicts the variation in the distribution of fitness-related benefits (i.e. fecundity, infant survival, mating success, and feeding success) in relation to individual dominance ranks. We tested this hypothesis in primate groups using comparative phylogenetic meta-analytical techniques. Specifically, we reviewed published and unpublished studies to extract data on individual dominance ranks, their access to fitness-related benefits, and hierarchy steepness. We collected and included in our analysis a total of 153 data points, representing 27 species (including 2 chimpanzee sub-species). From these, we used 4 common methods to measure individual dominance ranks and hierarchy steepness, i.e. D ij -based normalized David's scores, randomized Elo-ratings, and David's scores and Elo-ratings estimated in Bayesian frameworks. We found that hierarchy steepness had no effect on the strength of the relationship between dominance rank and access to fitness-related benefits. Our results suggest that hierarchy steepness does not reflect between-group variation in the extent to which individual dominance affects the acquisition of fitness-related benefits in primates. Although the ability to win agonistic encounters is essential, we speculate that other behavioral strategies adopted by individuals may play crucial roles in resource acquisition in animal competitive regimes.

Implications of the stigma of mental illness for professional knowledge development and practice: An Interprofessional Health Education framework from structural violence perspectives

AbstractPersons with mental illness (PWMI) continue to encounter stigma from the public with negative outcomes. Recent stigma discourse points to power differentials as key in shaping stigma related to mental illness within social settings. The perceived social injustice towards PWMI is known to exist both anecdotally and in documented discourses. Stigma constitutes the product of public attitudes and behaviors that characterize labeling, stereotyping, prejudice, cognitive separation, status loss, and discrimination that lead to responses that may include stress and esteem‐related appraisal of experienced, anticipated, perceived, or personal endorsement of societal actions that are anchored by existing power relational differentials. The potential consequence of such societal injustices (unfair treatments) towards PWMI may result in stigma and its sequels, including low socioeconomic status, stress, low self‐esteem, unemployment, homelessness, exclusion, and human rights abuse. This paper proposes an Interprofessional Health Education framework and discusses the implications of such unfair social treatments for Professional knowledge development and practice among healthcare professionals, with the view to improving collaboration and patient care outcomes. A more collaborative model of care, where service users and clinicians regard each other as knowledgeable with shared power to achieve healthy outcomes, empowers patients even more in areas where they fall short.

"One Day It Will Happen For Us": The Power of Academia in Community-University Service-Learning Partnerships

This qualitative research explores the community-university partnership experience from the perspective of community organizations engaged in a service-learning (SL) relationship with a private university in a developing country with a collectivist culture. The research explores the relational exchange among partners and foregrounds the issues of power and power redistribution in SL partnerships. The conceptual framework used is informed by conceptions from Dewey (1986), Freire (1996), values of democratic engagement (Saltmarsh et al., 2009), and the critical SL framework (Mitchell, 2008). Findings indicated that faculty were engaged in a traditional SL model in which the focus was not on the process of engagement but on the outcome of the SL experience. The definition of a partnership from community partners was linked to gains and to current or future access to resources. The perception and definition of power impacted community respondents’ reactions to the power dynamic in the ongoing interactions. Being situated in a collectivist culture seemed to impact the community members’ acceptance of unequal relationships. Findings suggested that in a collectivist context, partnerships cannot be examined without considering the context and culture in which the relationship takes place, as both will impact how a community partner defines an authentic relationship and, accordingly, what they expect from the partnership. The power of academia can be intimidating to community partners, so faculty must proactively map out power differentials and initiate reflections and discussions on power dynamics as part of the partnership building process.

The last word: An analysis of power dynamics in clinical notes documenting against-medical-advice discharges

Against Medical Advice (AMA) discharges pose significant challenges to the healthcare system, straining patient-clinician relationships while contributing to avoidable morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, though these discharges culminate in patients' departure from hospitals, their effects reverberate long after, propagated by clinician notes stored in patients' medical records. These notes capture exceptionally fraught interactions between patients and providers, describing the circumstances surrounding breakdowns in clinical relationships. Additionally, they represent just one side of complex, contentious social interactions, for in describing AMA discharges, clinician notewriters quite literally have the last word. For these reasons, notes documenting AMA discharges provide insight into the ways in which clinicians conceptualize, characterize, and propagate power differentials in the contemporary healthcare system. Here, we present a qualitative thematic analysis of 185 notes documenting AMA discharges from a large urban US medical center, interpreting note dynamics through three sociological models of power analysis: (i) the distributive model of power promulgated by Max Weber, (ii) the collectivist power model characterized by Talcott Parsons and Hannah Arendt, and (iii) structural interpretations of power developed by Michel Foucault. We argue that in documenting AMA discharges, clinicians appear to conceive of their relationship with patients in almost exclusively distributive terms, which in turn contributes to an adversarial dynamic whereby both patients and clinicians ultimately suffer disempowerment. We furthermore argue that by facilitating clinicians' recognition of power's collectivist and structural dimensions, we may help transform breakdowns in patient-clinician relationships into opportunities for collaboration.

Facing power: navigating power dynamics in a youth participatory action research project situated within a healthcare setting

ABSTRACT Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) is oftentimes cited as a method guided by social justice principles to uplift youth voice and pursue youth priorities in research. However, to uphold these principles, YPAR researchers must address how youth and adults alike negotiate power differentials to be equal partners in research and scholarship. We explore YPAR power sharing through a reflexive thematic analysis of in-depth, semi-structured interviews (n = 42) and focus groups (n = 2) conducted at three timepoints (baseline, mid-point, and exit) with youth (n = 8) and adult (n = 6) researchers engaged in a YPAR exploring health equity at a large, safety-net hospital. Our analyses suggest that both youth and adult researchers negotiate power dynamics in a YPAR at every stage of the project. YPAR researchers made four recommendations to negotiate power: 1) preserve time for relationship building, 2) structure group expectations, 3) require training for adults working with youth of color, and 4) designate youth-only spaces. This study provides an in-depth analysis of youth and adult reflections on power across a YPAR project. Our findings indicate that YPAR requires significant investment in resources, including time to reflect on and process power, transparent and structured expectations, and ongoing training to uphold principles of YPAR.

You are Under Arrest: Language Use for Social Power Construction in Institutional Discourse

This article investigates the ways in which language is employed in the construction of social power in selected institutional discourses. Speech acts theory and Fairclough’s concept of language and power serve as the study’s theoretical anchor. Data were generated through (non)participant observations in a five-year fieldwork to examine the peculiarities in instantiating social power using specific terms in workplace interactions involving participants with unequal power derived from the social roles they perform within the scope of this study. During the period, institutional discourses that demonstrate the enactment of social power in medical, religious, political, legal, academic and security domains in Calabar Metropolis, South-south Nigeria, were closely observed and documented. The linguistic choices show institutional and power differentials in the rehearsal of social power among discourse participants where one wields more than the other(s). Social power, as demonstrated, is dynamic and excised using the domain’s registers and enacted towards the punishment, reward, confinement, reformation, freedom or general wellbeing of the recipient. The study enriches the understanding of how social power holders rely on inferred authority and certification from their professional affiliations and work conventions to construct and maintain social power.

Perspectives of South Asian Youth in the United States about Gender Norms and Healthcare Decision Making

Abstract The aim of this study was to explore the voices of South Asian youth in the United States about gender norms and healthcare decision making. Ten focus group discussions were held with 36 students of South Asian origin at a university on the West Coast of the United States. Thematic analysis was performed on the focus group data. Three main themes emerged from the data: (1) intersectionality of gender with other factors that affect healthcare decision making, (2) impact of gender on health, and (3) coping strategies. Participants reported preferential treatment for boys versus girls, vesting decision-making control among males, worse health among females, and coping strategies. A few responses indicated that power differentials in some families were shifting to a more egalitarian balance between males and females. Aspects such as age, employment, and language barriers intersected with gender to create a complex web of influence on healthcare decision making. The study has implications for social workers to offer culturally responsive support to South Asian youth in the United States, paying attention to the intersectionalities when working with them. Further research is needed to explore the influence of gender on healthcare decision-making processes of South Asian youth in the United States.

Participatory Climate Action: Reflections on Community Diversity and the Role of External Experts

Academics have often contributed to designing, running, and evaluating participatory events with publics on climate action. Whilst climate assemblies are perhaps the most well-known of such events, there is also a proliferation of smaller and more local projects suggesting scope for reflection on the role of academic researchers in this evolving space. We deploy an experimental methodology that blends personal reflections with group discussion amongst the authors to help unpack the lessons learned from a project led by the local council, where we facilitated the involvement of local people in decision-making around climate action. Reflecting on our individual and academic positionalities, we question the extent to which we are well placed to build, maintain, and sustain trust, which requires spending time in place, continuity, and ceding power. As “outsiders” with “elite connotations,” our role as actors in this space is open for discussion. Indeed, our involvement could be perceived as a missed opportunity to retain more money and knowledge locally by ceding more responsibility to grassroots organisations. Our experience also suggests that framing public participation in terms of design and facilitation deficit is somewhat misleading. It is not just a process that needs to be attuned to diverse communities, but an ongoing relationship that needs certain enabling conditions to flourish, including conducive funding frameworks and a willingness to address incumbent power differentials between state and non-state actors.

Refugee voices vs. humanitarian choices: how much can refugee-led organizations redefine power and agency in post-2019 Lebanon?

In the humanitarian landscape, especially post-COVID-19, there has been a notable pivot towards inclusivity and participatory methodologies, emphasizing the pivotal role of refugee-led organizations (RLOs). In Lebanon, amidst persistent economic and political turmoil, RLOs serve as crucial support systems for Syrian and Palestinian refugees within an environment plagued by inconsistent refugee policies and heightened vulnerabilities. Academic discourse underscores the increasing significance of RLOs in humanitarian assistance, yet systemic hurdles such as power differentials and tokenistic inclusion have emerged, constraining their effectiveness and integration within the humanitarian sphere. This study critically examines the application of inclusivity within humanitarian operations, aligned with the principles outlined in the Agenda for Humanity, specifically scrutinizing how prevailing narratives and operational dynamics may marginalize RLOs in Lebanon, thereby impeding their efficacy. It endeavors to evaluate how RLOs can assert themselves as principal stakeholders in humanitarian endeavors, striving for a more equitable and pragmatic approach to power dynamics and strategic planning for refugee communities. Utilizing a qualitative and participatory methodology, this research engages with diverse RLOs in Lebanon, conducting interviews to realistically and practically frame their experiences, obstacles, and contributions within the humanitarian landscape across entrenched and often rigid hierarchies, power dynamics, and tokenism within Lebanon’s broader humanitarian landscape.

P-499 Long term psychological health of gestational surrogates in a low-income setting: five years after birth

Abstract Study question How does psychological health and experiences of surrogates in a cross-border commercial surrogacy setting change from pregnancy, 4-6 months, and five years post-birth? Summary answer Longitudinally surrogates’ psychological health did not significantly change. Majority had still not met the parents, continued hiding surrogacy, and reported mixed feelings for the child. What is known already Commercial surrogacy was banned in India in 2017 due to concerns related to exploitation and psychological harm. Power differentials between surrogates and intending parents and commercialization raised concerns regarding the psychological health of surrogates in low-income settings. Post the ban, surrogacy hotspots moved to countries like Mexico and Georgia embroiled in similar practices. There is however no academic literature on long-term psychological health of surrogates from low-income settings. Previous research showed that surrogacy pregnancy and prenatal attachment did not significantly contribute psychological harm post-birth. Instead, socio-cultural practices related to support during pregnancy and stigma increased depression scores post-birth. Study design, size, duration The fieldwork was administered in Mumbai, India, where international cross-border, gestational, and commercial surrogacy was being practiced. Data was collected over three phases: 1) during pregnancy 2) 4-6 months post-birth and 3) 5-6 years after surrogacy. Being a mixed-method design, findings include quantitative data on psychological health of surrogates from all three phases and qualitative data from phase 3 of the research. The study spans from 2014 to 2021. Participants/materials, setting, methods In-depth semi-structured interviews and standardized questionnaires (anxiety, depression, stress scale) were administered to 50 surrogates during pregnancy, 45 surrogates 4-6 months post-birth, and 19 surrogates 5-6 years post-birth. In phase III, mothers also responded to the perceived social support scale. Interviews included questions related to narratives and feelings about the baby, intending parents, surrogate hostel, fertility clinic, potential financial gain, perceptions of stigma, and the new law banning surrogacy. Fieldwork was administered at the clinic. Main results and the role of chance Three one-way repeated measures ANOVA were administered which showed that anxiety, depression, and stress of surrogates did not significantly differ over the three time-points, suggesting that practicing surrogacy did not significantly contribute to psychological harm. It is important to note that financial gain did not significantly improve their psychological over time. Non-parametric tests also did not show significant differences. Mean scores show a downward trend for anxiety and depression, but an upward trend for stress. The perceived social support scale showed that participants received support from family and significant other and least support from friends. However, support from family positively correlated with the stress scores of surrogates. Perhaps an overwhelming involvement of family adds to stress. Most surrogates were not in touch with friends from the surrogate hostel. Majority reported still thinking about the baby frequently, had mixed feelings, and were still hiding surrogacy. Most of them had not met the parents and child, did not know if intending parents should disclose to the child about surrogacy. Majority did not appreciate the new law and wouldn’t consider becoming surrogates without a payment. Prenatal bonding from phase 1 did not have any relationship with psychological health observed in phase 3. Limitations, reasons for caution The study’s sample size raises generalizability concerns. Diminishing sample sizes and potential social bias may affect robustness. Limited psychological measures and homogeneity assumptions suggest a need for caution in interpreting results. Wider implications of the findings This is the first longitudinal study on surrogate mothers from low-income settings practicing commercial surrogacy. Findings advocate policy reassessment, enduring support structures for surrogates, educational initiatives for transparency, international collaboration on best practices, and future research exploring cultural nuances and the perspectives of intending parents in cross-border commercial surrogacy. Trial registration number N/A

Examining contraceptive utilization behavior in Pakistani women

BackgroundThere is a dearth of research examining the couple characteristics in determining contractive utilization behavior in developing countries. This study fills the gap by analyzing the roles of women’s intra-household bargaining power and spousal age differentials in predicting contraceptive utilization behavior in Pakistani women.MethodsA sample of 13,331, excluding pregnant and sexually inactive married women aged 15–49, was extracted from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18. The dataset is cross-sectional. Exploratory analysis was used to examine the pattern of contraceptive knowledge, types of contraceptive utilization, and intention to use contraceptives among women. Furthermore, binary regressions were employed to examine the association of women's intrahousehold bargaining power and spousal age difference with contraceptive utilization without and after accounting for all potential covariates.ResultsOnly 33% of women use contraceptives, while 30% express an intention to use contraceptives in the future. Almost all women (98%) knew about modern contraceptives. Compared to same-age couples, higher odds of current contraceptive use are observed among women whose husbands are at least 20 years older than them or whose husbands are young to them. The odds of the intention to use contraceptives tend to increase with the increase in spousal age difference. Women’s intra-household bargaining is a significant predictor of current contraceptive utilization and intention to use contraceptives.ConclusionFindings underscore the importance of considering the couple’s characteristics in reproductive healthcare programming and policies.RecommendationGreater women's intra-household bargaining power and smaller spousal age differences are associated with higher contraceptive usage. Empowering women and promoting their decision-making authority within households can enhance reproductive health outcomes.