Women's decision‐making autonomy and utilization of antenatal, natal and post‐natal healthcare services: Insights from Tajikistan's national surveys

Alena Auchynnikava and Nazim Habibov

International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 2021, vol. 36, issue 1, 158-172

Abstract: Background The purpose of this article is to investigate the link between women's autonomy and their utilization of antenatal, natal and post‐natal healthcare services in Tajikistan. Previous studies focused only on a single dimension of such services, for instance, utilization of antenatal care. By contrast, we explore antenatal, natal and post‐natal healthcare services utilization using the number of indicator for each of the dimensions. Methods Data come from two national surveys that were conducted in 2012 and 2017. The target population is women of reproductive age (16–49) who were married or cohabitating with a partner (N = 7540). Several regression models were estimated to quantify association between women's autonomy and the utilization. Results Lack of women's autonomy is associated with a lower probability of: (a) having had at least four antenatal check‐ups during pregnancy, (b) beginning first antenatal check‐up early, (c) delivering in a healthcare facility, (d) having the skilled attendance during pregnancy, (e) having a mother post‐delivery check‐up, and (f) having a child post‐delivery check‐up. The size effect of women's autonomy is stronger than that of well‐developed precursors of utilization such as poverty and mothers' education. Conclusion Women autonomy should be improved to achieve higher rates of child and maternal healthcare utilization. Studies of maternal and child healthcare utilization should control explicitly for women's autonomy.

Date: 2021
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