Amoak Daniel, Sano Yujiro, Dhillon Satveer, Chidimbah Munthali George N, Antabe Roger, Luginaah Isaac
Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada.
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Nipissing University, 100 College Dr, North Bay, ON, P1B 8L7, Canada.
BMC Womens Health. 2025 Jul 28;25(1):372. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-03914-w.
Research documents married women's household decision-making autonomy as a critical determinant of a range of sexual and reproductive behaviours in many less developed countries. Despite this importance, however, very few studies explore the prevalence and correlates of women's household decision-making autonomy in countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon.
Using the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey, this study employs a binary logistic regression analysis to explore the demographic, locational, and socioeconomic determinants of women's household decision-making autonomy.
About half of respondents (47%) indicate that they are involved in the decision-making process at the household level. We find that women in polygamous marriages are less likely to be involved in the decision-making process in comparison to their monogamous counterparts (aOR = 0.69, p < 0.001). Similarly, compared to traditional women, Muslim women (aOR = 0.27, p < 0.001) and women with no religious affiliation (aOR = 0.35, p < 0.01) are less likely to be involved in the decision-making process. Also, our analysis shows that married women aged 15-19 (aOR = 0.27, p < 0.001), 20-24 (aOR = 0.43, p < 0.001), 25-29 (aOR = 0.51, p < 0.001), 30-34 (aOR = 0.75, p < 0.01), and 35-39 (aOR = 0.71, p < 0.01) are less likely to be involved in decision-making process in comparison to their counterparts aged 45-49. Finally, poorer, less educated, and unemployed women are less likely to be involved in the decision-making process in comparison to their wealthier, more educated, and employed counterparts.
Based on these findings, policymakers must be cognisant of the household power dynamics in polygamous relationships when implementing programs that promote gender equality and women's autonomy. Furthermore, the government should prioritize initiatives and socioeconomic support programs focusing specifically on marginalized groups. Investing in education and raising awareness about women's rights, gender equality, and the importance of inclusive decision-making can be instrumental in challenging societal attitudes and promoting women's autonomy.
研究文献表明，在许多欠发达国家，已婚女性在家庭决策中的自主权是一系列性与生殖行为的关键决定因素。然而，尽管这一点很重要，但在撒哈拉以南非洲国家，包括喀麦隆，很少有研究探讨女性家庭决策自主权的流行情况及其相关因素。
本研究利用2018年喀麦隆人口与健康调查，采用二元逻辑回归分析来探究女性家庭决策自主权的人口统计学、地理位置和社会经济决定因素。
约一半的受访者（47%）表示她们参与家庭层面的决策过程。我们发现，与一夫一妻制婚姻中的女性相比，一夫多妻制婚姻中的女性参与决策过程的可能性较小（调整后比值比[aOR]=0.69，p<0.001）。同样，与传统女性相比，穆斯林女性（aOR=0.27，p<0.001）和无宗教信仰的女性（aOR=0.35，p<0.01）参与决策过程的可能性较小。此外，我们的分析表明，与45-49岁的女性相比，15-19岁（aOR=0.27，p<0.001）、20-24岁（aOR=0.43，p<0.001）、25-29岁（aOR=0.51，p<0.001）、30-34岁（aOR=0.75，p<0.01）和35-39岁（aOR=0.71，p<0.01）的已婚女性参与决策过程的可能性较小。最后，与较富裕、受教育程度较高且有工作的女性相比，较贫穷、受教育程度较低且失业的女性参与决策过程的可能性较小。
基于这些发现，政策制定者在实施促进性别平等和女性自主权的项目时，必须认识到一夫多妻制关系中的家庭权力动态。此外，政府应优先考虑专门针对边缘化群体的举措和社会经济支持项目。投资于教育并提高对妇女权利、性别平等以及包容性决策重要性的认识，有助于挑战社会态度并促进女性自主权。
