Mapping the Drivers of Women’s Health Empowerment Disparities: Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: The present study aims to quantify women's health empowerment in the first stage and determine the factors affecting it in the second stage. The study also aims to highlight regional differences in women's health empowerment through spatial mapping.

Research gap: The role of women cannot be denied for high economic growth in modern economic literature. Improving the health and wellbeing of all individuals, particularly women is a global goal under the SDGs. Poor health status and lack of healthcare facilities not only affect women’s well-being negatively but also affect economic growth through the reduction in their productivity. Pakistan is one of the few countries where women face issues in health empowerment. Health empowerment is one’s ability to make healthcare decisions. The study is novel in nature to quantify health empowerment and factors affecting it.

Design/Methodology/ Approach: The study employs the data from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) for this purpose. Descriptive and Ordinary Least Square method have been used for the analysis. To check correlation among variables, Principal Component Analysis is done.  Spatial Analysis is performed to estimate regional differences in women’s health empowerment.

Main Finding: Regression analysis suggest that women’s empowerment, age and education have significant impact on health poverty. Women residing in urban areas face less barriers to health care access as compared to women residing in far flung areas.

Theoretical/Practical Implications of Finding: The findings of the study suggest empowering women through provision of educational opportunities, access to economic resources and autonomy through social and culturally sensitive intervention.

Originality/ Value: Preceding studies have not quantified women’s health empowerment. This study is groundbreaking in identifying factors affecting health empowerment of women. Additionally, it provides spatial analysis of situation of health empowerment in the country.