Woldemicael Gebremariam
Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, Sweden.
J Biosoc Sci. 2009 Mar;41(2):161-81. doi: 10.1017/S0021932008003040. Epub 2008 Oct 16.
Current research and policies on reproductive behaviours in many East African countries focus primarily on proxy indicators of women's autonomy, and very little emphasis is placed on direct indicators of women's autonomy. In this paper, data from the 2002 Eritrea Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) are used to address some of the most frequently raised questions about the link between women's autonomy and reproductive behaviour. The results from the multivariate logistic models show that although the relationship between women's autonomy and reproductive preferences in Eritrea is complex, some clear, broad patterns exist that have implications for theory and policy. First, although the different dimensions of women's autonomy influence the outcome variables differently in terms of magnitude and statistical significance, most of them have a strong connection; in particular, women's final say in decisions regarding day-to-day household purchases and spousal communication are significant explanatory variables in fertility preferences and ever-use of modern contraception. Second, many background (proxy) variables, particularly household economic condition and employment, exert a strong and independent influence over fertility preferences and ever-use of contraception regardless of a woman's autonomy. In their relationship to reproductive behaviours, therefore, employment and economic status cannot be considered as proxies for women's autonomy in Eritrea. A complete explanation of the relationship between women's autonomy and reproductive preferences must recognize the effects of both the background and direct autonomy indicators. Interventions are needed to improve women's decision-making autonomy and strengthen their negotiating capacity on family planning if an increased desire to limit fertility is to be attained.
许多东非国家目前关于生殖行为的研究和政策主要侧重于衡量女性自主权的替代指标，而对女性自主权的直接指标关注甚少。在本文中，我们使用了2002年厄立特里亚人口与健康调查（EDHS）的数据，来回答一些关于女性自主权与生殖行为之间联系的常见问题。多变量逻辑模型的结果表明，尽管在厄立特里亚，女性自主权与生殖偏好之间的关系较为复杂，但仍存在一些清晰、广泛的模式，这些模式对理论和政策具有启示意义。首先，尽管女性自主权的不同维度对结果变量的影响在程度和统计显著性上有所不同，但它们大多存在紧密联系；特别是，女性在日常家庭采购决策和配偶沟通方面的最终决定权，是生育偏好和现代避孕措施使用情况的重要解释变量。其次，许多背景（替代）变量，尤其是家庭经济状况和就业情况，无论女性的自主权如何，都会对生育偏好和避孕措施的使用产生强大而独立的影响。因此，在厄立特里亚，就业和经济状况与生殖行为的关系不能被视为女性自主权的替代指标。要全面解释女性自主权与生殖偏好之间的关系，必须认识到背景指标和直接自主权指标的影响。如果要实现更强的限制生育意愿，就需要采取干预措施来提高女性的决策自主权，并增强她们在计划生育方面的谈判能力。
