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  • Title: Women's position and family planning in Egypt.
    Author: Govindasamy P, Malhotra A.
    Journal: Stud Fam Plann; 1996; 27(6):328-40. PubMed ID: 8986031.
    Abstract:
    In this report, data from the 1988 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey are used to address some of the most frequently raised questions about the relationship between gender inequality and reproductive behavior. The findings from binomial and multinomial logit models show that while the relationship between women's position and fertility control in Egypt is complex, some clear, broad patterns exist that have important theoretical and policy implications. First, although women's status in Egypt is clearly multidimensional, the reproductive aspect of women's position has a strong connection with the nonreproductive dimensions. Second, the case of the continued use of education and employment as proxies of women's position, especially in relationship to fertility control, is considerably discredited by the results. Finally, the findings indicate that Egyptian culture supports gender equality in the form of interaction and negotiation rather than women's autonomy. Recent analyses based on Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey (1988) data have revealed a positive, although unspecified, association between gender inequalities and fertility. To identify the dynamics underlying this relationship, the present study examined the links between women's status, family planning decision making, and contraceptive use. Current contraceptive use was reported by 38.2% of the 7857 currently married women included in the 1988 survey; 25.7% were pregnant or seeking pregnancy and 36.1% were non-users. The majority (60.4%) thought family planning decisions should be made by both partners. The wife's freedom of movement was medium (48.7%) or high (32.3%) in most cases. However, only 41% felt their point of view carried weight within the household; 21.2% reported it did not matter and 47.7% said their opinions carried less weight than their husbands'. Financial decisions were made by the husband alone in 58.2% of households. Multinomial logit models indicated that differences in women's input in both household and budgetary matters and their freedom of movement were related to measurable differences in fertility-related behaviors. Women with autonomy and input in other domestic areas were more likely to have input on family planning matters and to use contraception. However, these three variables did not affect family planning decision-making preferences and use in the same manner or to the same degree, suggesting women's position is multidimensional. Women with a philosophy of female autonomy on family planning decision-making were only as likely to practice contraception as women favoring a more egalitarian view, consistent with a cultural preference for interaction and negotiation rather than autonomy. Finally, education and employment only partially mediated the relationship between the nonreproductive and reproductive variables, indicating that these variables should not be used as proxies of Egyptian women's status.
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