Assessment of Women's Awareness about Their Reproductive Rights

The topic of women's reproductive rights is a debated issue in politics and social sciences. However, while many scholars focus on women's issues related to human rights globally, little research has been done on reproductive rights in Egypt. In this context, the current study was carried out in order to assess women's awareness about their reproductive rights. The study was undertaken in Alexandria Governorate on a sample of women of varied age groups, marital status, educational, occupational and economic backgrounds as well as obstetrical characteristics. The present study explored women's awareness as well as their exercise of reproductive rights specifically in relation to the right to refuse marriage at all or get married at too early age and the right to choose the husband by herself. The study also explored women's views related to the right to decide the number and spacing of children, the right to use family planning services, as well as the right to be free from sexual violence and marital violence. It was encouraging to find out that when the aforementioned rights were discussed with respondents, the majority endorsed these rights.