Determinants of women’s empowerment in Pakistan: evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys, 2012–13 and 2017–18

Abstract

Background Women’s empowerment has always remained a contested issue in the complex socio-demographic and cultural milieu of Pakistani society. Women are ranked lower than men on all vital human development indicators. Therefore, studying various determinants of women’s empowerment is urgently needed in the Pakistani context. Methods The study empirically operationalized the concept of women’s empowerment and investigated its determinants through representative secondary data taken from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys among women at reproductive age (15–49 years) in 2012–13 (n = 13,558) and 2017–18 (n = 15,068). The study used simple binary logistic and multivariable regression analyses. Results The results of the binary logistic regression highlighted that almost all of the selected demographic, economic, social, and access to information variables were significantly associated with women’s empowerment (p < 0.05) in both PDHS datasets. In the multivariable regression analysis, the adjusted odds ratios highlighted that reproductive-age women in higher age groups having children, with a higher level of education and wealth index, involved in skilled work, who were the head of household, and had access to information were reported to be more empowered. Results of the multivariable regression analysis conducted separately for two empowerment indicators (decision-making and ownership) corroborated the findings of the one indicator of women empowerment, except where ownership did not appear to be significantly associated with number of children and sex of household head in both data sets (2012–13 and 2017–18). Conclusions A number of social, economic, demographic, familial, and information-exposure factors determine women’s empowerment. The study proposes some evidence-based policy options to improve the status of women in Pakistan.

Women’s Participation in Household Decision Making and Justification of Wife Beating: A Secondary Data Analysis from Pakistan’s Demographic and Health Survey

“…The findings also highlighted that women who had a high household wealth index and women who owned and inherited a house and/or land were more empowered. Similar results have also been reported from Southeast Asian countries, showing that women in wealthier households are more likely to participate in decision making, jointly and on their own, than women of poorer households [15]. However, in Pakistan, women living in rural areas stand low on the wealth index [24], and also have inequitable access to family assets and inherited property that results in a lack of their influence and participation in decision making.…”

“…In Pakistan, women's right to inheritance is poorly realized, mainly due to patriarchal customs and sociocultural dynamics that give preference to men over women. In addition, women living in rural areas with a low level of education are not aware of their legal rights [15]. Hence, there is a dire need to introduce legal reforms and educate women about their legal rights in their parent's or husband's property.…”

“…It is therefore important to assess the prevalence of women's empowerment and its associated predictors in Pakistani society. A more recent study from Pakistan using the DHS dataset accounted for decision making and ownership for measuring empowerment reported that women who are in higher age brackets, educated, employed, residing in urban settings, heading the house, from wealthier quintiles, have children, and have access to information are more empowered [15]. Although the earlier study measured empowerment using ownership and decision-making indicators, this study considered decision making and wife beating as indicators to measure empowerment among women.…”

Psychological and situational factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine intention among postpartum women in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

“… 47 However, the social position of the women, her education level and earning potential are also determinants of women’s autonomy in decision-making. 45 Anecdotal evidence from our clinician colleagues suggests that information from authoritative sources such as physicians, influences women and family’s decision-making in Kharadar. In addition, the Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children’s service is more accessible to women and children in Karimabad, and Garden compared with Hyderabad and Kharadar due to its location, which provides women with more health education thus more latitude with decision-making.…”

“…44 Pakistani women's decision-making is related to the complex intersection between the sociodemographic and economic context and cultural milieu in which they live. [45][46][47] Women living in urban areas have a greater say in the household, while in the rural area, husbands and other family members have a significant role in making decisions, especially with regard to medical care for their children. 47 However, the social position of the women, her education level and earning potential are also determinants of women's autonomy in decision-making.…”