Open Conference Systems, The 2nd International Conference on Public Health (ICPH) 2020

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Women’s decision-making power in the households: A demographic study of married women in IndonesiaWomen’s decision-making power in the households: A demographic study of married women in Indonesia
Maria Gayatri

Last modified: 2020-12-19

Abstract


Women’s roles in decision-making in the household are important aspects of
women’s empowerment and gender relations that have cross-cultural and household level relevance. Identifying the barriers of married women’s decision-making power has significant relevance for family resilience. This study aims to identify the relationship of demographic factors on the decision-making power among married women in Indonesia. The study examined data from 35,681 married women at the Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey 2017. Women’s participation in household decision-making was based on questions asked of all women about: (1) their own health care, (2) major household purchases, (3) visits to the family or relatives. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression for complex sample designs with adjusted for confounders were performed to analyse the association between decisionmaking power and demographic factors such as age, number of living children, education, employment, wealth status and place of residence. Overall, 71.96% of married women aged 15-49 participated in three household decision making. Women’s education was the strongest predictor of decision-making power which higher educated women (OR: 2.05; 95%CI: 1.63- 2.59) and secondary educated women (OR: 1.61; 95%CI: 1.43-1.81) had higher decisionmaking power compared with primary or less educated women. Women employed for cash
(OR: 1.54; 95%CI: 1.37-1.73) had higher decision-making power than not employed women. Women’s age, wealth index, and place of residence were also significant influencing decisionmaking power. Higher educated and employed women had better power to make decisions in their households. Improving women’s education and increasing economic opportunities for women should be continuously enhanced to increase family resilience


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