Is women's empowerment associated with coverage of RMNCH interventions in low- and middle-income countries? An analysis using a survey-based empowerment indicator, the SWPER.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Women's empowerment has a strong potential to promote sustainable development. We evaluate the association between women's empowerment and the Composite Coverage Index (CCI), a weighted average of coverage of eight interventions in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH). We also assess whether these effects are modified by wealth.

Methods

We used Demographic and Health Survey data from 62 low- and middle-income countries. Women's empowerment was measured using the three domains (attitude to violence, social independence and decision making) of the survey-based indicator of women's empowerment (SWPER). Analyses followed an ecological design. Meta-regression models were used to account for within-country uncertainty in the CCI. We also carried out

SUBMITTER: Ewerling F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7979155 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature