Delia Voronca1, Rebekah J Walker2, Leonard E Egede3. 1. Emmes, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases, 401 North Washington Street, Suite 700, Rockville, MD, 20850-0401, USA. 2. Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. 3. Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. legede@mcw.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the association between women's empowerment and wealth over time in Kenya. METHODS: Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for 2003 and 2008-2009 were used. Eligible women and men were either married or living with a partner. Two scales were used for empowerment: female participation in decision-making, and attitudes toward domestic violence against female partners. Hierarchical linear models were used based on theoretical blocks of covariates. RESULTS: In a sample of 9847 women and 3207 men, results showed empowerment increased over time. After adjustment, female partners' reporting greater empowerment on either scale remained significantly associated with increased wealth, (urban: β = 0.04, p value < 0.05; β = - 0.06, p value < 0.01) and (rural: β = 0.04, p value < 0.01, β = - 0.07, p value < 0.01). Based on male partners' responses, female partners' participation in decision-making was associated with increased wealth in rural regions (β = 0.04, p value < 0.01), and agreement with domestic violence towards a female partner was significantly associated with a decrease in wealth in urban regions (β = - 0.08, p value < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Women's empowerment has increased over time in Kenya and is associated with increased family wealth. The association varies by gender of respondent and rural/urban residence.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the association between women's empowerment and wealth over time in Kenya. METHODS: Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for 2003 and 2008-2009 were used. Eligible women and men were either married or living with a partner. Two scales were used for empowerment: female participation in decision-making, and attitudes toward domestic violence against female partners. Hierarchical linear models were used based on theoretical blocks of covariates. RESULTS: In a sample of 9847 women and 3207 men, results showed empowerment increased over time. After adjustment, female partners' reporting greater empowerment on either scale remained significantly associated with increased wealth, (urban: β = 0.04, p value < 0.05; β = - 0.06, p value < 0.01) and (rural: β = 0.04, p value < 0.01, β = - 0.07, p value < 0.01). Based on male partners' responses, female partners' participation in decision-making was associated with increased wealth in rural regions (β = 0.04, p value < 0.01), and agreement with domestic violence towards a female partner was significantly associated with a decrease in wealth in urban regions (β = - 0.08, p value < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Women's empowerment has increased over time in Kenya and is associated with increased family wealth. The association varies by gender of respondent and rural/urban residence.
Entities:
Keywords:
Demographic and Health Survey; Domestic violence against women; Empowerment; Kenya; Participation in decision-making; Wealth
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