Authors : Eknaran Paudel; Bijaya Babu Adhikari

Volume/Issue : Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 12 - December

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5n8mmkep

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14576675

Abstract : Autonomy is a broad concept that is challenging to measure. It can be defined as a person’s capacity to behave autonomously and independently of desires, in conformity with objective morality (Bhandari, Kutty, & Ravindran, 2016). In the context of Nepal, there is a low level of autonomy among the women whose educational level and husband’s educational status is low. The main objective of this study was to examine women's autonomy and its associated factors in Annapurna rural municipality. This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 360 Married Women aged 15-49 in Annapurna Rural Municipality of Kaski District, Nepal. Multistage Random sampling technique was used to select appropriate samples. Face to face interview with the respondents was done. Women’s autonomy was assessed by using standard tools. Tools was adopted in English language and translated into simple and clear Nepali language and was back translated into English. The collected data was entered in EPI-DATA version 3.2 which was exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22) for analysis. Informed consent was taken from the respondents both in verbal and written form. Finally, the result of the study was disseminated in an appropriate setting. Out of total 360 respondents, 53.3% (192) have a high level of autonomy, whereas 46.7% (168) have a low level of autonomy. This study shows that more percentage of women were autonomous. Women’s employment was found to be associated with women’s autonomy (P value= 0.008, i.e., P<0.05), whereas there was not any significant association with other variables.

Keywords : Women’s Autonomy, Autonomy, Household Decision Making and Women.

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