Women's Control of Their Lives

WOMEN'S CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES For women, a key element of empowerment is gaining greater control over the circumstances of their lives. Only when women fully recognize and exercise their right to shape their own lives can they achieve gender equality. Demographic and Health Surveys collected data on aspects of women's control in their own lives in 46 countries during the years 2000-2012. Control of Household Decisions In only 12 of 43 countries do more than 3 of currently married women participate in house- hold decisions, such as major household purchases, the woman's own health care, and visits to the woman's family or relatives. RICE RICE RICE Control of Income At least 90% of currently married women who earn cash have a say in how their own cash earnings are used in 29 of 44 countries. 90% Control of their Bodies /½ Currently married women's levels of unmet need for family planning range from 7% in Vietnam to 37% in Haiti. Unmet need is defined as the percent of women who are in need of contraception but are not currently using a contraceptive method. <15% 15-19% 20-24% Less than 2 of currently married women use modern contraception in 37 of 46 countries. 25-29% >30% Ukraine Moldova Azerbaijan Armenia Pakistan Nepal Jordan Egypt India Dominican Republic Haiti, Mali Bangladesh |Burkina Faso Vietnam Honduras Senegal Philippines Guinea Nigeria Cambodia Sierra Leone Ghana Liberia Ethiopia Cameroon Benin Colombia Uganda Kenya Maldives Democratic/ Republic of Rwanda the Congo Tanzania Burundi Indonesia Malawi Timor-Leste Zambia Mozambique Zimbabwe Madagascar Bolivia Namibia Swaziland Lesotho In 19 of 30 countries, less than 3 of 4 currently married women can refuse sex with their husband. Less than 75% of married women 75% 75% say they can ask their husbands to use a condom in 22 of 30 countries. Read full report, Women's Lives and Challenges: Equality and Empowerment since 2000, at http://measuredhs.com/publications/publication-OD66-Other-Documents.cfm Data from the following Demographic and Health Surveys: Armenia 2000, 2005, 2010; Azerbaijan 2006; Bangladesh 2004, 2007, 2011; Benin 2001, 2006; Bolivia 2003, 2008; Burkina Faso 2003, 2010; Burundi 2010; Cambodia 2000, 2005, 2010; Cameroon 2004, 2011; Colombia 2000, 2005, 2010; Democratic Republic of the Congo 2007; Dominican Republic 2002, 2007; Egypt 2000, 2005, 2008; Ethiopia 2000, 2005, 2011; Ghana 2003, 2008; Guinea 2005; Haiti 2000, 2005-06; Honduras 2005-06; India 2005-06; Indonesia 2002-03, 2007; Jordan 2002, 2007, 2009 Interim; Kenya 2003, 2008-09; Lesotho 2004, 2009; Liberia 2007; Madagascar 2003-04, 2008-09; Malawi 2000, 2004, 2010; Maldives 2009; Mali 2001, 2006; Moldova 2005; Mozambique 2003; Namibia 2000, 2006-07; Nepal 2001, 2006, 2011; Nigeria 2003, 2008; Pakistan 2006-07; Philippines 2003, 2008; Rwanda 2000, 2005, 2010; Senegal 2005, 2010-11 DHS/MICS; Sierra Leone 2008; Swaziland 2006-07; Tanzania 2004-05, 2010; Timor-Leste 2009-10; Uganda 2000-01, 2006, 2011; Ukraine 2007; Vietnam 2002; Zambia 2001-02, 2007; Zimbabwe 2005-06, 2010-11 STATES USAID USAID ERNATIONAL FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE W W W.DHSPROGRAM.COM AGENCY INEMHOMATAM -UNITEDS