Financial and legal empowerment in women’s reproductive health decision-making in rural China and Pakistan: A qualitative study

Zhang Biao, Sun Zhongfeng, Muhammad S. Khan

Abstract

This study investigates how financial and legal empowerment affects women's reproductive health decisions in rural China and Pakistan, both of which face notable patriarchal and socioeconomic challenges. We used a qualitative approach, employing semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth insights from rural women who faced barriers in making reproductive health decisions due to financial and legal constraints. We used purposive sampling to recruit participants. Data were collected from 30 women aged 18–45 years from rural Anhui Province, China, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The results show that women are much better able to make informed choices about their reproductive health when they are financially independent, have control over their money and income opportunities, and are aware of their legal rights. Women who are economically empowered and legally informed have greater autonomy in accessing reproductive healthcare and challenging patriarchal norms. The study concludes that financial and legal empowerment are essential for enhancing reproductive health outcomes and that their integration into policy and practice is crucial for enabling women's independent reproductive decisions. This study contributes to the literature on women’s autonomy in reproductive health by highlighting the combined role of financial and legal empowerment, offering insights for policymakers, healthcare providers, and legal reformers seeking to improve reproductive health outcomes in rural marginalized communities.

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