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      Women’s economic empowerment and health related decision-making in rural Sierra Leone

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          Abstract

          Maternal mortality rates during childbirth in Sierra Leone are amongst the highest globally, with 1360 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Furthermore, the country's neonatal mortality rate is estimated at 39 deaths per 1000 live births. There is growing recognition of the health consequences of gender inequality, but challenges in addressing it. Gendered power dynamics within households affect health outcomes, with men often controlling decisions about their family's health, including their family's use of health services. The Government's Free Health Care Initiative, which abolished user fees for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five is promising, however this reform alone is insufficient to meet health goals. Using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with men and women, this study explores women's economic empowerment and health decision-making in rural Sierra Leone. Findings show the concept of power related to women's income generation, financial independence and being listened to in social relationships. Whilst women's economic empowerment was reported to ease marital tensions, men remained household authority figures, including regarding health decision-making. Economic interventions play an important role in supporting women's economic empowerment and in influencing gender norms, but men's roles and women's social empowerment, alongside economic empowerment, needs consideration.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          Culture, Health & Sexuality
          Culture, Health & Sexuality
          Informa UK Limited
          1369-1058
          1464-5351
          November 08 2019
          : 1-18
          Affiliations
          [1 ] Christian Aid, London, UK;
          [2 ] Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK;
          [3 ] Christian Aid, Nairobi, Kenya;
          [4 ] Christian Aid, Lagos, Nigeria;
          [5 ] Institute of Geography and Development Studies, Njala University, Bo, Sierra Leone;
          [6 ] Christian Aid, Freetown, Sierra Leone
          Article
          10.1080/13691058.2019.1683229
          31702445
          4ba014d3-8241-489c-9566-0094a83c0d10
          © 2019

          http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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