Gender Inequality and the Sexual and Reproductive Health Status of Young and Older Women in the Afar Region of Ethiopia

Muluken Dessalegn, Mhiret Ayele, Yeshitila Hailu, Genetu Addisu, Sintayehu Abebe, Haset Solomon, Geteneh Mogess and Virginia Stulz
Additional contact information
Muluken Dessalegn: Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia, Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Department, Addis Ababa P O Box 20855 Code 1000, Ethiopia
Mhiret Ayele: Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia, Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Department, Addis Ababa P O Box 20855 Code 1000, Ethiopia
Yeshitila Hailu: Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia, Head of Programs, Addis Ababa P O Box 20855 Code 1000, Ethiopia
Genetu Addisu: Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia, Reproductive Maternal and Child Health Department, Addis Ababa P O Box 20855 Code 1000, Ethiopia
Sintayehu Abebe: Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia, Reproductive Maternal and Child Health Department, Addis Ababa P O Box 20855 Code 1000, Ethiopia
Haset Solomon: Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia, Reproductive Maternal and Child Health Department, Addis Ababa P O Box 20855 Code 1000, Ethiopia
Geteneh Mogess: Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia, Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Department, Addis Ababa P O Box 20855 Code 1000, Ethiopia
Virginia Stulz: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: The main purpose of this research was to analyze gender context in the Afar region of Ethiopia and propose a set of strategies or actions to improve adolescent and youth health. Using a pre-established gender analysis framework, an explorative qualitative study was conducted in five districts. Sixteen key informants and eight focus group discussions were conducted among adult women and men of young adolescents and youth. The study revealed that younger and older women are the most disadvantaged groups of the society. This is due to the high workload on women and girls (housekeeping, building a house and taking care of cattle and children), they also are less valued, have no control over resources and have no part in decision making, including their personal life choices. As a result, they rarely access school and health facilities. They are forced get married according to arranged marriage called “absuma.” As such, they suffer from multiple reproductive health problems. Women have poor decision-making autonomy, lack control over resources, have limited participation in socio-economic practices, and experience child and early forced marriage, and this poor service utilization has exposed them to the worst sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

Keywords: gender; gender analysis; gender equity; value; absuma; empowerment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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