Women's decision-making power regarding family planning use and associated factors in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Etsay Woldu Anbesu; Mussie Alemayehu; Dejen Kahsay Asgedom; Fikru Yigezu Jeleta

doi:10.1177/20503121231162722

Women's decision-making power regarding family planning use and associated factors in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

SAGE Open Med. 2023 Mar 28:11:20503121231162722. doi: 10.1177/20503121231162722. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Etsay Woldu Anbesu¹, Mussie Alemayehu², Dejen Kahsay Asgedom¹, Fikru Yigezu Jeleta³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Samara University, Samara, Ethiopia.
² School of Public Health, College of Health Science, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Nursing, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Samara University, Samara, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Objective: Although emphasis is placed on women's decision-making power regarding family planning use in Ethiopia, the utilization of contraceptives is low. There are studies conducted in different parts of the country on women's decision-making power regarding family planning use; however, there are inconsistent findings. Thus, this study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of women's decision-making power regarding family planning use and associated factors in Ethiopia.

Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to develop the systematic review and meta-analysis. All observational studies were retrieved from online databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, African Journal Online and gray literature. The data search was performed from 1 December to 16 May 2022. The quality of the studies was critically assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Heterogeneity among studies was examined using the I ² statistic. RevMan version 5.3 and STATA version 14 software were used for analysis.

Results: A total of 852 studies were retrieved, and 8 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of women's decision-making power regarding family planning use was 57 (95% confidence interval: 37, 77). Good knowledge of family planning methods (odds ratio: 2.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.65, 3.67), a positive attitude toward family planning methods (odds ratio: 2.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.3, 3.2), and having primary or higher education (odds ratio: 9.76, 95% confidence interval: 4.36, 21.99) were associated with increased odds of women's decision-making power regarding family planning use.

Conclusion: Nearly three in five married women made decisions regarding family planning use in Ethiopia. Women with good knowledge of family planning methods, a positive attitude toward family planning methods, and women having primary or higher education were associated with increased odds of women's decision-making power regarding family planning use.

Keywords: Ethiopia; family planning use; systematic review; women’s decision-making.

Publication types

Review