Gender Norms and Family Planning Decision-Making Among Married Men and Women, in Jeldu Woreda Rural Kebeles, West Shewa. A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Family planning is defined as the use of various methods of fertility control that will help individuals or couples to have the number of children they desire and at a planned time interval in order to ascertain the well-being of the children, parents and communities at large. Objective: To explore influence of gender norms on family planning decision- making among married men and women, in Jeldu Woreda rural Kebeles, west Shewa 2012/13. Methods: A Qualitative study with grounded theory design was employed. Data collection was done using a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions. The methods employed were in-depth interview and focus group discussions. Data analysis was begun with transcription. Transcripts were coded using Atlas.ti-7 Software using thematic analysis. Result Different gender norms in the community were obstacles for family planning utilization in the community. Those gender norms directly or by complement with each other acts as the barriers of FP utilizations. Decision making power of men/husbands on family planning (needs for his consent by women/wives), seeing children as social prestige due to cultural beliefs, low status of women in community, undermining knowledge of women, limiting responsibility of women/wives to home, dominance of men/husbands on households, etc are affects directly or by complement with each other the family planning decision making among married men and women. Conclusion Decision making power of men/husbands on family planning (needs for his consent by women/wives), seeing children as social prestige due to cultural beliefs, low status of women in community, undermining knowledge of women, limiting responsibility of women/wives to home, dominance of men/husbands on households, etc are affects directly or by complement with each other the family planning decision making among married men and women. From the study the coupe communication on issue of RH and family planning was not common even though they are communicate on other issue of their life, no consideration was given for issue of RH and FP. Due to men dominance at house level and other related factors roles of women on family planning decision making was limited to accept the idea of their husband. Furthermore due to men‘s power of decision making it was finalized based on the interest of men/husband.