Family planning is defined as the use of various methods of fertility control that will help individuals or couples to have the number of children they desire and at a planned time interval in order to ascertain the well-being of the children, parents and communities at large Different gender norms in the community were obstacles for family planning utilization in the community. Those gender norms directly or by complement with each other acts as the barriers of FP utilizations. Decision making power of men/husbands on family planning (needs for his consent by women/wives), seeing children as social prestige due to cultural beliefs, low status of women in community, undermining knowledge of women, limiting responsibility of women/wives to home, dominance of men/husbands on households, etc are affecting directly or by complement with each other the family planning decision making among Married couples.
Objective: To explore the influence of gender norms on family planning decision- making among married couples, in Jeldu Woreda rural Kebeles, west Shewa 2012/13.
Methods: A Qualitative study with grounded theory design was employed. Data collection was done using a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions. The methods employed were in-depth interview and focus group discussions.
Data analysis was begun with transcription. Transcripts were coded using Atlas.ti-7 Software using thematic analysis.
Recommendation: HEWs, woreda women’s and children’s affairs and family planning programmers needs to consider and design activities that have more holistic approach, including and integrating elements like men’s dominance on households, the low-status women in the community, cultural beliefs related with number of children, attitudes towards gender and proverbs/sayings related with gender.
BCC and IEC program targeting family planning at different levels of government FMOH, Regional health bureau and woreda health office should give consideration and attention for gender norms in the community.
Table of Contents
1. Background
2. Literature review
2.1. Couple communication/ Decision -making
2.2. Attitude, beliefs and perception of men toward family planning
3. Significance of the study
4. RESEARCH QUESTION AND OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
4.1. Research Question
4.2. Objective
4.2.1. General objective
4.2.2. Specific objective
5. METHODS AND MATERIALS
5.1. Study area/setting
5.2. Study Design
5.3. Population
5.3.1. Source population
5.3.2. Study population
5.3.3. Study unit
5.4. Inclusion and exclusion criteria
5.4.1. Inclusion criteria
5.4.2. Exclusion criteria
5.5. Sample size and sampling techniques
5.5.1. Sample size
5.6. Sampling methods and procedure
5.6.1. Participant selection
5.6.2. Sampling method
5.7. Data collection methods and process
5.7.1. Data collection process
5.7.2. Data collection method
5.7.3. In-depth interview
5.7.4. Focus group discussion
5.8. Data collections tools
5.9. Role of the researcher
5.10. Pretes
5.11. Data management and analysis procedure
5.12. Strategies for maintaining the validity
5.13. Definitions of terms
5.14. Ethical considerations
6. Result
6.1. socio-Demography of the respondents
6.2. In-depthh interview participants
6.3. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
6.3.1. Prevalent Gender norms
6.4. Effects of gender norms on women
6.5. Resource management
6.6. Decision making at the household level
6.7. Gender norms and 'their effects on the health of women
6.8. Pre-existingg conditions that support gender norms in a community
6.9. Family planning decision making
6.9.1. Information about family planning
6.9.2. Family planning Decision making process/manner
6.9.3. Challenges related to family planning
6.9.3.1. Cultural beliefs related to a number of children
6.9.3.2. Fear of side effects, rumours and misconception related to FP methods
6.9.3.3. Influence of religion
6.10. Final decision making on FP and the role of women
6.11. Using family planning by secret and its consequence
6.12. Couples communication
6.13. Family planning decision making and Gender norm
6.14. Discussion
Objectives and Research Themes
The primary objective of this study is to explore the influence of gender norms on family planning decision-making among married couples in the rural Kebeles of Jeldu Woreda. It investigates how societal expectations regarding gender roles, household power dynamics, and communication patterns impact the uptake and utilization of family planning services, specifically addressing the barriers created by male-dominated decision-making and cultural beliefs.
- The role of gender norms in shaping household decision-making power.
- The impact of traditional beliefs and societal expectations on family size and planning.
- Barriers to communication between spouses regarding reproductive health and contraceptive use.
- The prevalence and consequences of secret use of family planning methods among women.
- The influence of socio-cultural factors, including religion and education, on family planning practices.
Excerpt from the Book
6.4. Effects of gender norms on women
Gender norms in the community give low social status for women. Due to that universally in all Kebeles, women are characterized by under the control of husband and accepting the decision made by him. A man is sole decision-maker, and it doesn’t matter whether the woman has her views or not. Men want to have the first and last word on their household. Women have a high workload in the community. All home works like cooking foods, feeding children, washing clothes, fetching waters, collecting woods.etc are the most difficult actives done by women every day. This directly has an effect on the health of women in the community. As participants said women have no rest and always struggling with all home works without any support from her husband.
One participant said
“…: women cooks, fetch water, goes mail house, collect wood, make coffee, care, children, wash clothes, etc. in addition to all these activities during the farming session and harvest session she works on field equally with men. Tonight after field workmen can sleep but the women cannot get any rest. She cooks dinner, fetches water, makes coffee, washes children, etc. she is so busy with homework up to midnight or more. again she awake up to early before husband and make breakfast, coffee, fetch water, still, he will sleep and wake up when everything was ready. Women have no rest all the day.…” (Men FGD, Osole kebele).
Summary of Chapters
1. Background: Provides an overview of family planning definitions, the global and regional context of reproductive health, and the specific population dynamics and maternal health challenges in Ethiopia.
2. Literature review: Examines the existing body of research regarding gendered social expectations, the role of men in reproductive health, and the influence of socio-cultural norms on contraceptive behavior.
3. Significance of the study: Discusses the importance of understanding gender norms to improve the effectiveness of family planning interventions and to fill existing research gaps in the Ethiopian context.
4. RESEARCH QUESTION AND OBJECTIVE OF STUDY: Outlines the specific research questions and the general and specific objectives driving this qualitative investigation.
5. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Details the qualitative grounded theory design, the study setting in Jeldu Woreda, sampling techniques, and the procedures used for data collection and analysis.
6. Result: Presents the findings regarding socio-demographic characteristics, prevalent gender norms, their effects on women, resource management, decision-making, and communication patterns.
Keywords
Gender norms, Qualitative research, Grounded theory, Decision-making, Family planning, Married couples, Rural Ethiopia, Reproductive health, Male dominance, Spousal communication, Contraceptive use, Socio-cultural beliefs, Maternal health, Household power dynamics, Secret contraceptive use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on exploring how deep-rooted gender norms influence the decision-making process for family planning among married couples living in rural Kebeles in Jeldu Woreda, Ethiopia.
What are the primary themes examined in this study?
Key themes include male dominance in household decision-making, the low social status of women, barriers to spousal communication, cultural beliefs about family size, and the impact of these factors on reproductive health choices.
What is the main research objective?
The primary objective is to understand the influence of gender norms on family planning decision-making and to identify the pre-existing social and cultural conditions that contribute to these norms in the study area.
Which scientific methodology was utilized?
The study employed a qualitative research approach with a grounded theory design, utilizing in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to generate comprehensive insights from the participants.
What topics are covered in the findings section?
The findings cover gendered identities, the effects of gender norms on women’s health and workload, resource management, the process of decision-making within households, and the challenges related to utilizing family planning services.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
The study is characterized by terms such as gender norms, grounded theory, decision-making, rural Ethiopia, spousal communication, and reproductive health.
How does the community view family planning information?
While most community members have information about family planning methods, the study reveals that the primary challenge is not a lack of information, but rather the cultural and gender-based barriers to its utilization.
What is the significance of the "secret use" of family planning?
Secret use represents the last resort for women who desire to limit their family size but face strong opposition from their husbands, highlighting the power imbalance in decision-making and the associated risks for women.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dereje Geleta Negera (Autor:in), 2013, Gender Norm and Family Planning Decision-Making among Married Couples, in Jeldu Woreda Rural Kebeles, West Shewa, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/520090
