HOUSEHOLD DECISION-MAKING AND USE OF CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG PAKHTUN WOMEN

Abstract

The present study was cross-sectional in nature, aiming to discover the women’s role in household decision-making and its effects on the adoption of family planning methods. Through multi-stage random sampling technique, a sample of 413 married women was selected from three tehsils of District Mardan. The data were collected through interview schedule from these respondents. Findings of the study show that a highly significant (0.000) and positive association (= 0.322) was found between women decision about children education and use of contraceptives, choosing the healthcare in care of women illness and use of contraceptives (0.000, = 0.314), a highly significant (0.000) and positive (= 0.292) association was found between the use of contraceptives and women decision regarding the treatment of ill child, and highly significant (0.000) and positive (= 0.162) association was found between women decision regarding their children’s marriages and use of contraceptives. It seems that those women used contraceptives easily who were involve in major household decision-making as compared to their counterparts. The study recommended that through education, and formulation & implementation of laws, women may be aware of their rights and can be empowered due to which they can exercise their power in major daily routine like household and family planning matters.