Determinants of Women’s Autonomy in Health Care Decision Making in Ghana, 2017

Abstract

Knowledge on the factors that determine a woman‟s autonomy in health care decision making is necessary for her improved health outcome. This study sought to identify some demographic, socio-economic and cultural factors that have an influence on women‟s autonomy in health care decision making in Ghana. Some characteristics of the women‟s husbands or partners were also included in the study (husband/ partner‟s education and employment status). The study used the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS, 2014) data which is the most recent DHS study conducted in Ghana, to assess the various characteristics of the individuals. The number of individuals used in the study was 5320 women who were currently in union (married or living with partner). The results revealed that 77% of the respondents were autonomous in their health care decision making. At the end of the analysis, age of respondent, region of residence, current marital status, marriage type, respondent‟s educational level, employment status and house ownership were strong significant predictors of women‟s autonomy in health care decision making. Under the demographic characteristics, age and region of residence were significant. The socioeconomic characteristics that were significant were respondent‟s educational level, employment status, land and house ownership. Ethnicity was the cultural characteristic that was a significant predictor of women‟s autonomy in health care decision making. None of the husband‟s or partners characteristics were significant predictors of women‟s autonomy in health care decision making.