Indicator 5.6.1 Proportion of women aged 15–49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive health care

Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.

Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15–49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive health care

2024

3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.7.1, 3.7.2, 5.2.1, 5.6.2

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics

Senior Manager, Population Statistics

Population and Social Statistics Directorate

Collect, compile, analyze and disseminate Statistics on Population

+254735004401, +254202911000, +254202911001

30266-00100 NAIROBI

dpss@knbs.or.ke

Definition:

Proportion of women aged 15-49 years (married or in union) who make their own decision on all three selected areas i.e. decide on their own health care; decide on use of contraception; and can say no to sexual intercourse with their husband or partner if they do not want. Only women who provide a “yes” answer to all three components are considered as women who make their own decisions regarding sexual and reproductive health. A union involves a man and a woman regularly cohabiting in a marriage-like relationship.

Women’s autonomy in decision-making and exercise of their reproductive rights is assessed from responses to the following three questions:

1. Who usually makes decisions about health care for yourself?

– RESPONDENT

– HUSBAND/PARTNER

– RESPONDENT AND HUSBAND/PARTNER JOINTLY

– SOMEONE ELSE

– OTHER, SPECIFY

2. Who usually makes the decision on whether or not you should use contraception?

– RESPONDENT

– HUSBAND/PARTNER

– RESPONDENT AND HUSBAND/PARTNER JOINTLY

– SOMEONE ELSE

– OTHER, SPECIFY

3. Can you say no to your husband/partner if you do not want to have sexual intercourse?

– YES

– NO

– DEPENDS/NOT SURE

A woman is considered to have autonomy in reproductive health decision making and to be empowered to exercise their reproductive rights if they (1) decide on health care for themselves, either alone or jointly with their husbands or partners, (2) decide on use or non-use of contraception, either alone or jointly with their husbands or partners; and (3) can say no to sex with their husband/partner if they do not want to

Per cent

1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action

Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS)

The 2022 KDHS employed a two-stage stratified sample design where in the first stage, 1,692 clusters were selected from the K-HMSF using the Equal Probability Selection Method (EPSEM). The clusters were selected independently in each sampling stratum. Household listing was carried out in all the selected clusters, and the resulting list of households served as a sampling frame for the second stage of selection, where 25 households were selected from each cluster. Interviews were conducted only in the pre-selected households and clusters; no replacement of the preselected units was allowed during the survey data collection stages.

All three questions were included in the survey with the questions on decision making on healthcare and use of contraception having distinct categories for women making decisions themselves and women making decisions jointly with their husband or partner.

The method of data collection used was interviews, where women aged 15 -49 were asked who usually makes decisions about their healthcare and use of contraception. Additionally, women were also asked if they can say no to their husband/partner if they do not want to have sexual intercourse.

Every 5 years

2027

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) is established under the Statistics Act, 2006 as the principal agency of the Government for collecting, analyzing and disseminating statistical data in Kenya and as the custodian of official statistical information.

Women’s and girls’ autonomy in decision-making about sexual and reproductive health services, contraceptive use, and consensual sexual relations is key to their empowerment and the complete exercise of their reproductive rights.

Women who make their own decision regarding seeking healthcare for themselves are considered empowered to exercise their reproductive rights.

Regarding decision-making on the use of contraception, a clearer understanding of women empowerment is obtained by looking at the indicator from the perspective of decisions being made “mainly by the partner”, as opposed to a decision being made “by the woman alone” or “by the woman jointly with the partner”. Depending on the type of contraceptive method being used, a decision by the woman “alone” or “jointly with the partner” does not always entail that the woman is empowered or has bargaining skills. Conversely, it is safe to assume that a woman that does not participate, at all, in making contraceptive choices is disempowered as far as sexual and reproductive decisions are concerned.

A woman’s ability to say no to her husband/partner if she does not want to have sexual intercourse is well aligned with the concept of sexual autonomy and women’s empowerment.

The measure does not cover women and girls that are not married or in a union, as they do not usually make “joint decisions” on their health care with their partners.

Regularity of data collection; Monitoring this indicator with certain periodicity may be a challenge if sustained capacities are not built and financial resources are not available.

Numerator: Number of married or in union women and girls aged 15-49 years old:

– for whom decision on health care for themselves is not usually made by the husband/partner or someone else; and

– for whom the decision on contraception is not mainly made by the husband/partner; and

– who can say no to sex.

Only women who satisfy all three empowerment criteria are included in the numerator.

Denominator: Total number of women and girls aged 15-49 years old, who are married or in union.

Proportion = (Numerator/Denominator) * 100

Implementation of the 2022 KDHS was done in collaboration with several stakeholders throughout the entire process. Additionally, among other committees, a technical working committee was developed which included technical officers and subject matter specialists on various thematic areas from key stakeholders.

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics is ISO certified based on 9001:2015 Standard requirements. The processes of compilation, production, publication and dissemination of data, including quality control, are carried out following the methodological framework and standards established by the KNBS, in compliance with the Internationally acceptable standards.

The KNBS adheres to Kenya Statistical Quality Assurance Framework (KesQAF) that underlines principles to be assured in managing the statistical production processes and output.

Data consistency and quality checks are conducted through Technical Working Groups (TWGs) before publication and dissemination.

The KNBS adheres to Kenya Statistical Quality Assurance Framework (KesQAF) that underlines principles to be assured in managing the statistical production processes and output.

Data consistency and quality checks are conducted through Technical Working Groups (TWGs) before publication and dissemination.

Data Availability

Data available at National level and County level.

Time Series

2014, 2022

Disaggregation

Disaggregated by age, area of residence, marital status, employment, education and wealth quintile

None

https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/48/104

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/

Kenya DHS 2022 Main Report - Volume 1 - Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (knbs.or.ke)