Fertility, family planning methods and autonomy among women in Delhi

Abstract

Background: Women's autonomy is defined as the ability to regulate one's environment with the help of social and material resources. This autonomy is intricately linked to various reproductive health outcomes, including reduced fertility, increased contraceptive usage and access to prenatal care. It can be understood as the ability of women to oversee and manage their surroundings independently, allowing them to make decisions about their lifestyle, irrespective of societal opinions. Aims and Objectives: This study explored the association between fertility, family planning methods (FPMs) and autonomy amongst women in Delhi. Materials and Methods: The data for the present study were collected from 400 married women aged 15–45 years old residing in Delhi. A face to face interview was conducted using a semi structured schedule to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Results: The findings revealed that the autonomy level of women was found to be low (13.75%), medium (56.5%) and high (29.75%). Respondents with low autonomy status (47.27%) were illiterate or had a primary level of education. Women with low autonomy have a more significant number of conceptions than medium and high autonomy women, resulting in increased live births amongst low autonomy women. In addition, participants with low levels of autonomy were less aware of FPMs. The study underscored the influence of women's social position, as reflected in factors such as education, occupation and the economic status of the family, on fertility and contraceptive usage. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that women exhibiting lower autonomy levels tend to possess lower educational attainment, experience a higher frequency of conceptions, demonstrate limited knowledge about contraception and show lower rates of employment.

Keywords

• contraception
• fertility
• reproductive health
• schedule caste
• women's autonomy