Objective: This study was done to determine the overall estimate of decision-making autonomy on maternal health services and associated factors in low- and middle-income countries.
Method: PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the Ethiopian University online library were searched. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using STATA statistical software (version 14). Publication bias was checked by forest plot, Begg's rank test, and Egger's regression test. To look for heterogeneity, I2 was computed, and an overall estimated analysis was carried out. Subgroup analysis was done by country, year, and publication. Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tool was used to check the quality of each study. We carried out a leave-one-out sensitivity analysis.
Results: Out of 1305 articles retrieved, 19 studies (with 104,871 study participants) met eligibility criteria and were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of women's decision-making autonomy on maternal health services in low- and middle-income countries was 55.15% (95% confidence interval: 44.11-66.19; I2 = 98.6%, P < 0.001). Based on subgroup analysis, decision-making autonomy in maternal health services was the highest in Ethiopia at 61.36% (95% confidence interval: 50.58-72.15) and the lowest in Nigeria at 36.16% (95% confidence interval: 12.99-43.39). It was 32.16% (95% confidence interval: 32.72-39.60) and 60.18% (95% confidence interval: 47.92-72.44) before and after 2016, respectively. It was also 54.64% (95% confidence interval: 42.51-66.78) in published studies and 57.91% (95% confidence interval: 54.80-61.02) in unpublished studies. Age (adjusted odds ratio = 2.67; 95% confidence interval: (1.29-5.55), I2 = 90.1%), primary level of education (adjusted odds ratio = 1.75; 95% confidence interval: (1.39-2.21), I2 = 63.8%), secondary education level (adjusted odds ratio = 2.09; 95% confidence interval: (1.32-3.32), I2 = 87.8%), being urban resident (adjusted odds ratio = 1.80; 95% confidence interval: (1.22-2.66), I2 = 73%), and monthly income (adjusted odds ratio = 3.23; 95% confidence interval: (1.85-5.65), I2 = 97%) were positively associated with decision-making autonomy on maternal health service.
Conclusion: Decision-making autonomy on maternal health services in low- and middle-income countries was low. Sociodemographic factors also influenced it. Educational accessibility and income generation should have been recommended, enabling women to decide for themselves.
Keywords: decision-making autonomy; female autonomy; low and middle income; maternal health; women autonomy.