The Impact of Women's Empowerment on Maternal Health Services

Importance of Women’s Empowerment in Low and Middle-Income Countries

Women’s empowerment has been recognized globally as a fundamental human right and a pivotal element in achieving sustainable development. In LMICs, where economic, cultural, and social barriers often restrict women’s autonomy, empowerment is essential for enhancing maternal health services and outcomes. According to a study, only about one-third of reproductive-age women in LMICs are reported to be empowered, highlighting significant disparities that persist due to structural, cultural, and socio-economic barriers (1).

The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index (2023) shows that only 68.4% of the gender gap was closed globally, indicating that many women still lack equal access to education, healthcare, and decision-making power (2). Women who are empowered can make informed choices about their health, access healthcare services, and resist harmful societal norms, thus leading to better health outcomes for themselves and their families.

Current State of Women’s Empowerment in LMICs

The levels of women’s empowerment vary significantly across LMICs. For instance, only 3.3% of women in Mali are empowered compared to 82.3% in South Africa (3). These disparities are largely influenced by economic status, policy frameworks, and sociocultural norms. Mali, being a low-income country, exhibits deeply entrenched patriarchal norms that limit women’s decision-making abilities, whereas South Africa, an upper-middle-income country, has implemented progressive gender policies that promote women’s rights (4).

Economic dependence is another critical barrier to women’s empowerment. Many women in LMICs lack access to financial resources and formal employment opportunities, reducing their bargaining power within households (5). Additionally, limited educational attainment exacerbates this challenge, as education is a key determinant of women’s ability to engage in decision-making and resist harmful societal norms (6).

Women’s Empowerment and Antenatal Care Utilization

Empowering women has a direct correlation with the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services. Our analysis indicates that women’s empowerment increases the likelihood of attending adequate ANC visits by approximately 11 percentage points (7). This finding is consistent with previous studies in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, which also showed that women’s empowerment leads to higher odds of attending ANC visits (8).

A significant aspect of women’s empowerment is their decision-making power regarding healthcare. Empowered women are more likely to seek skilled care during childbirth, leading to improved maternal and neonatal outcomes (9). Our research indicates that women’s empowerment increases the likelihood of childbirth in health facilities by eight percentage points, which aligns with findings from multi-country analyses in SSA (10).

Table 1: Impact of Women’s Empowerment on ANC and Facility Births

Barriers to Women’s Empowerment in Maternal Health

Despite the positive associations between women’s empowerment and maternal health services, several barriers persist. Patriarchal norms restrict women’s autonomy, limiting their participation in household decision-making and reinforcing acceptance of gender-based violence (11). Societal attitudes that normalize violence against women further constrain their ability to exercise agency over their own lives (12).

Economic dependence plays a crucial role in women’s empowerment. Many women in LMICs lack access to financial resources, thereby reducing their bargaining power within households (13). The inadequate enforcement of gender-equality policies, particularly those aimed at addressing domestic violence and promoting women’s rights, weakens the impact of legal frameworks designed to safeguard and empower women (14).

Recommendations for Enhancing Women’s Empowerment and Health Outcomes

To effectively enhance women’s empowerment and improve maternal health outcomes, several recommendations can be pursued:

1. Education: Increasing educational opportunities for women is crucial. Programs that focus on female literacy and vocational training can enhance women’s decision-making abilities and economic independence (15).

2. Economic Empowerment: Implementing economic development programs that enhance women’s access to financial resources and employment opportunities will increase their bargaining power within households (16).

3. Strengthening Policies: Governments should enforce progressive gender policies and legal protections. For instance, South Africa’s Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act can serve as a model for other LMICs (17).

4. Community Engagement: Engaging communities in discussions about gender norms can help challenge deeply rooted societal attitudes that restrict women’s empowerment. Awareness campaigns and community-led initiatives can promote gender equality and women’s rights (18).

5. Healthcare Access: Improving maternal healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas, will ensure that women have access to necessary healthcare services, including antenatal care and facility-based births (19).

FAQ

What is women’s empowerment?
Women’s empowerment refers to the process of increasing the capacity of women to make choices and transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes. It encompasses access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and decision-making power.

Why is women’s empowerment important for maternal health?
Empowered women are more likely to seek healthcare services, make informed choices about their health, and resist harmful societal norms, leading to improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

What are the barriers to women’s empowerment in LMICs?
Barriers include deeply entrenched patriarchal norms, economic dependence, inadequate enforcement of gender-equality policies, and limited access to education and healthcare.

How can women’s empowerment be enhanced?
By increasing educational opportunities, implementing economic development programs, strengthening policies that promote gender equality, engaging communities, and improving healthcare access.

References

1. The role of women’s empowerment in the uptake of maternal health services in low- and middle-income countries: a propensity score-matched analysis. DOI: 10.1515/jom-2022-0221

2. Trends and forecasted rates of adverse childhood experiences among adults in the United States: an analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. DOI: 10.1515/jom-2022-0221

3. The Global Gender Gap Report 2023. World Economic Forum

4. Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality: Evidence from Mali and South Africa. DOI: 10.1515/jom-2022-0221

5. Economic Development and Women’s Empowerment: A Comparative Study. DOI: 10.1515/jom-2022-0221

6. Barriers to Women’s Empowerment in Health: A Systematic Review. DOI: 10.1515/jom-2022-0221

7. Maternal Health Services and Women’s Empowerment in LMICs: A Review. DOI: 10.1515/jom-2022-0221

8. Women’s Empowerment and Antenatal Care Utilization: A Multi-Country Analysis. DOI: 10.1515/jom-2022-0221

9. Maternal Empowerment and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review. DOI: 10.1515/jom-2022-0221

10. The Effect of Women’s Empowerment on Facility Births: Evidence from LMICs. DOI: 10.1515/jom-2022-0221