| Literature DB >> 23312349 |
Geeta Nanda1, Sidney Ruth Schuler, Rachel Lenzi.
Abstract
This paper explores the hypothesis that gender attitude scales (which measure the degree of equity in gender attitudes) are associated with contraceptive use. Four hundred male and female respondents (200 couples) were interviewed using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. Analyses included comparisons of means and prevalence rates on gender equity indicators, other related factors and socio-demographic characteristics; t-tests to compare mean scores on each gender scale for wives and husbands to identify any significant differences; chi-squared tests to compare associations between individual attributes, attitudes and contraceptive use; and multivariate logistic regression to examine associations between each gender scale and contraceptive use. The findings revealed that, on average, wives endorsed more inequitable gender attitudes compared with husbands on all gender attitude scales. For wives, more equitable gender attitudes were positively associated with contraceptive use. For husbands, the role of gender attitudes had no significant association with wives' reported contraceptive use. Family planning programmes that aim to challenge inegalitarian gender norms should not overlook women in their efforts since both men and women often accept and support inequality in a social system and, in some cases, it may be women's gender attitudes that most influence family planning decisions.Entities:
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Year: 2013 PMID: 23312349 PMCID: PMC3607277 DOI: 10.1017/S0021932012000855
Source DB: PubMed Journal: J Biosoc Sci ISSN: 0021-9320
Characteristics of sample, Dodoma and Mwanza regions, Tanzania, 2009
| Variable | Wives | Husbands |
|---|---|---|
| Age | ||
| 15–29 years | 66.0% | 31.5% |
| 30–49 years | 34.0% | 68.5% |
| Mean | 27.4 years | 33.2 years |
| Education | ||
| No education | 12.5% | 3.0% |
| Some primary | 14.0% | 13.0% |
| Complete primary | 63.5% | 67.0% |
| Post-primary | 10.0% | 17.0% |
| No. living children | ||
| None | 7.5% | 6.5% |
| 1 | 21.5% | 21.5% |
| 2 | 26.5% | 24.5% |
| 3 or more | 44.5% | 47.5% |
| Religion | ||
| Christian | 74.5% | 69.5% |
| Muslim | 25.0% | 29.5% |
| Traditional | 0.5% | 1.0% |
| Exposure to media | ||
| Reads newspaper | 41.0% | 58.0% |
| Listens to radio | 94.5% | 98.0% |
| Current contraceptive use | ||
| No | 54.5% | |
| Yes | 45.5% |
Average gender scale scores for wives and husbands, Dodoma and Mwanza regions, Tanzania, 2009
| Gender attitude scale | Wives | Husbands |
|---|---|---|
| Gender Equitable Men (GEM) scale (0 to 24) | 9.0 | 9.4 |
| Household Decision-Making scale (0 to 5)* | 2.9 | 3.2 |
| Attitudes Toward Wife Refusing Sex scale (0 to 4) | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| Attitudes Toward Wife Beating scale (0 to 5)*** | 2.0 | 3.4 |
t-test: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Comparison of husbands' and wives' gender attitudes, Dodoma and Mwanza regions, Tanzania, 2009
| Variable | Wives | Husbands |
|---|---|---|
| GEM scale equity index** | ||
| Low equity | 36.5 | 38.0 |
| Moderate equity | 58.0 | 45.5 |
| High equity | 5.5 | 16.5 |
| Household Decision-Making scale* | ||
| Has say in fewer than 5 decisions or no say in any decisions | 92.0 | 84.0 |
| Has say (alone or jointly) in all 5 decisions | 8.0 | 16.0 |
| Attitudes Toward Wife Refusing Sex scale | ||
| Wife does not have the right to refuse sex for one or more reasons | 25.5 | 27.5 |
| Wife has the right to refuse sex for all 4 reasons given | 74.5 | 72.5 |
| Attitudes Toward Wife Beating scale*** | ||
| One or more of the 5 reasons for wife beating are justified | 94.5 | 69.5 |
| None of the reasons for wife beating is justified | 5.5 | 30.5 |
Pearson's χ2 test: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of reporting contraceptive use by the GEM scale and socio-demographic factors, Dodoma and Mwanza regions, Tanzania, 2009
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Variable | Husbands | Wives |
| Age | ||
| 15–29 years (Ref.) | ||
| 30–49 years | 1.24 (0.60, 2.59) | 1.12 (0.53, 2.39) |
| Education | ||
| No education or some primary (Ref.) | ||
| Complete primary or higher | 1.65 (0.65, 4.23) | 1.65 (0.78, 3.51) |
| No. living children | ||
| 0–1 (Ref.) | ||
| 2 | 2.76 (1.17, 6.53)* | 4.37 (1.78, 10.76)** |
| 3 or more | 2.94 (1.27, 6.80)* | 5.74 (2.20, 14.97)*** |
| Region | ||
| Mwanza (Ref.) | ||
| Dodoma | 4.20 (2.10, 8.42)*** | 7.06 (3.24, 15.38)*** |
| GEM scale (continuous) | 1.01 (0.96, 1.07) | 1.11 (1.01, 1.21)* |
*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of reporting contraceptive use by the Attitudes Toward Wife Beating scale and socio-demographic factors, Dodoma and Mwanza regions, Tanzania, 2009
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Variable | Husbands | Wives |
| Age | ||
| 15–29 years (Ref.) | ||
| 30–49 years | 1.26 (0.60, 2.62) | 1.07 (0.50, 2.28) |
| Education | ||
| No education or some primary (Ref.) | ||
| Complete primary or higher | 1.77 (0.71, 4.46) | 1.54 (0.72, 3.27) |
| No. living children | ||
| 0–1 (Ref.) | ||
| 2 | 2.76 (1.17, 6.52)* | 4.43 (1.80, 10.89)** |
| 3 or more | 2.98 (1.28, 6.93)* | 5.52 (2.13, 14.30)*** |
| Region | ||
| Mwanza (Ref.) | ||
| Dodoma | 4.12 (2.13, 7.97)*** | 6.43 (3.04, 13.62)*** |
| Attitudes Toward Wife Beating scale (continuous) | 0.95 (0.77, 1.17) | 1.29 (1.02, 1.64) * |
*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of reporting contraceptive use by the Household Decision-Making scale and socio-demographic factors, Dodoma and Mwanza regions, Tanzania, 2009
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Variable | Husbands | Wives |
| Age | ||
| 15–29 years (Ref.) | ||
| 30–49 years | 1.25 (0.60, 2.60) | 1.10 (0.52, 2.32) |
| Education | ||
| No education or some primary (Ref.) | ||
| Complete primary or higher | 1.61 (0.62, 4.15) | 1.74 (0.83, 3.63) |
| No. living children | ||
| 0–1 (Ref.) | ||
| 2 | 2.71 (1.14, 6.43)* | 4.09 (1.69, 9.93)** |
| 3 or more | 2.85 (1.22, 6.68)* | 5.36 (2.09, 13.77)*** |
| Region | ||
| Mwanza (Ref.) | ||
| Dodoma | 4.02 (2.10, 7.68)*** | 4.82 (2.38, 9.77)*** |
| Household Decision-Making scale (continuous) | 1.07 (0.84, 1.36) | 1.17 (0.90, 1.51) |
*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of reporting contraceptive use by the Attitudes Toward Refusing Sex scale and socio-demographic factors, Dodoma and Mwanza regions, Tanzania, 2009
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Variable | Husbands | Wives |
| Age | ||
| 15–29 years (Ref.) | ||
| 30–49 years | 1.22 (0.58, 2.54) | 1.14 (0.54, 2.42) |
| Education | ||
| No education or some primary (Ref.) | ||
| Complete primary or higher | 1.61 (0.64, 4.05) | 1.82 (0.87, 3.84) |
| No. living children | ||
| 0–1 (Ref.) | ||
| 2 | 2.73 (1.15, 6.46)* | 4.04 (1.66, 9.79)** |
| 3 or more | 2.88 (1.24, 6.70)* | 5.03 (1.96, 12.88)** |
| Region | ||
| Mwanza (Ref.) | ||
| Dodoma | 3.81 (1.98, 7.35)*** | 5.48 (2.70, 11.16)*** |
| Attitudes Toward Refusing Sex scale (continuous) | 1.22 (0.79, 1.86) | 0.78 (0.57, 1.08) |
*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.