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Understanding the issues of women’s empowerment and fertility in Bangladesh
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Journal Article
Understanding the issues of women’s empowerment and fertility in Bangladesh
2025
Overview
Background
Traditional cultural norms in Bangladesh often restrict women’s autonomy to decide and voice their opinions regarding fertility. This study tried to understand how Bangladeshi women’s perceptions, views, and experiences regarding women’s empowerment (WE) influence their total number of children, desired number of children, birth spacing, and gender preferences.
Methods
A qualitative research design was used to investigate the impact of WE on fertility in Dhaka City. The study conducted seven focus group discussions (FGDs) and twenty-nine in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 93 married women aged 15–49 years. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the study participants, and thematic analysis was conducted to identify key patterns and insights.
Results
The results show that higher levels of Women’s empowerment were associated with a preference for smaller family sizes and delayed childbearing. Empowered women exhibit greater self-confidence and independence in expressing opinions and making decisions in both household and societal settings. Economic empowerment enhances women’s bargaining power and decision-making capabilities regarding the timing and number of children. However, the prevalent preference for sons still significantly impacts these choices.
Conclusion
The study identified significant sociocultural barriers, including family pressure, gender preference, lack of critical consciousness, and misconceptions about contraceptives that hinder WE toward fertility decisions. Addressing these enduring cultural and societal barriers requires immediate and thorough interventions focused on economic, psychological, and sociocultural empowerment. Increasing autonomy in fertility decision-making is crucial for achieving more equitable reproductive health outcomes.
Plain english summary
Women’s empowerment enables them to make informed decisions that shape their future in various areas. Fertility is the ability to bear a child. Empowering women is crucial for allowing them to determine their reproductive goals. It has both direct and indirect implications for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of health (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), and economic growth (SDG 8). The study of women’s empowerment and fertility is crucial for investigating how Bangladeshi women’s beliefs, views, and experiences with women’s empowerment influence their total number of children ever born, birth spacing, and gender preferences. We also identified the barriers and facilitators of women’s empowerment and their implications for fertility outcomes. However, there have been few qualitative investigations on this topic in Bangladesh.
The primary data was gathered through in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). The study was conducted in various urban areas to ensure diversity in terms of income, educational level, and cultural background. This study found that higher levels of women’s empowerment were associated with a preference for smaller family sizes and delayed childbirth. Economic empowerment gives women more bargaining power and decision-making ability when it comes to the timing and quantity of children. Understanding women’s empowerment in fertility decisions is a critical problem in Bangladesh, and it is consistent with global measures to promote gender equality and improve reproductive health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where similar sociocultural constraints exist.
Publisher
BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
Subject
