REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

GENDER ROLES AND RELATIONS AS PREDICTORS OF PRACTICING OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS AMONG MARRIED WOMEN AND MEN IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Practicing reproductive health rights is not an individual attribute but an outcome
negotiated between partners. Large differentials can place the less powerful partner at risk by
reducing his or her ability to negotiate safer sexual relations. Negotiation between partners is
affected by material assistance which is given by men. Hence, the present study was designed to
gauge the extent of practicing the reproductive health rights among married men and women
and to see the relationship between respondents' characteristics and practicing of reproductive
health rights by them. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from Punjab province. Well
designed interviewing schedules were constructed in the light of research objectives and the
conceptual framework of the study to collect data and draw inferences. A representative sample
of 700 married women and 600 men were interviewed. The SPSS/PC+ 15.0 Statistical Package
for Social Sciences were used for analyzing the data. A strong and positive association between
the demographic characteristics of married men and women and their attitude towards the
reproductive health behavior and those women who were currently engaged in paid jobs had
highly favorable and consistent attitude towards RHR-Practices. It was strongly suggested that
encourage women's employment by increasing their education level and creating jobs in every
department and encourage women's participation in decision making process.