Women's Autonomy and Fertility In Urban Poor Communities in Sudan

Ibrahim Ms Ghada, Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), the Egyptian Cabinet

The purpose of this study is to test the relationship between fertility decline and its relationship to the status of women in deprived urban areas in Khartoum, Sudan. Women's utilization of contraception will be examined as an important determinant of fertility and to what extent women's autonomy affects her decision in using contraception. A sample of 1,952 currently married women in reproductive age is used in the analysis. Women's autonomy is measured by using four indices: women's involvement in domestic decision making, women's attitudes towards domestic violence, women's perception toward her freedom in deciding whether to work and gain regular income, and to what extend her contribution into household income. Results show that using family planning methods among currently married women is significantly dependent on her autonomy status. Moreover, some policy implications of the findings regarding fertility decline, increase of utilization of family planning contraception, and women’s autonomy are discussed.