Women's Autonomy and Maternal Health Care Utilization in Pakistan

The present study intends to analyze women's autonomy and its relationship with maternal health care utilization in rural Gujrat, Pakistan. A survey was conducted in three Union Councils (Doga, Kernana & Malka) of Tehsil Kharian, District Gujrat. A sample size of 104 female respondents (delivered a baby having the age group of 6 weeks to 8 months) was drawn with the help of multi-stage random sampling technique by collecting sampling frame from the concerned Union Council Offices. Interview schedule was developed to collect relevant information from the respondents. Univeriat tables were generated to show frequency distribution and percentages. Cross-tabulations were constructed to show the relationship of different variables. Spearman's rho statistical test was used to test the hypothesis. There was a positive association between women's autonomy and maternal health care utilization.