这项研究考察了肯尼亚农村地区妇女在家庭中的地位对家庭规模和计划生育使用的影响。该研究依赖于Lappe和Schurman(1990)的权力关系理论框架。家庭内部的决策权结构,村庄,社区,国家政府,国际机构影响着人们的选择。权力结构是指确定允许谁参与决策过程以及他们的观点如何成为最终决策的一部分的规则。研究样本包括三个种族:萨巴蒂亚地区的阿巴鲁哈亚,Vihiga区;尼亚马奇分区的Abagusii,基西地区;和基尔戈里斯省的马赛,Narok区.随机抽样包括每个种族中200名年龄在15-49岁之间的已婚妇女。分析是基于参与者的观察,采访,以及在选定的妇女和老年关键线人中深入关注小组。调查结果表明,47.7%的人有很高的地位,40.5%有中等状态,14.5%的人地位较低。平均儿童人数为4.5。高地位妻子的平均子女数为4.1,4.4中等地位的妻子,地位低的妻子为5.8。这种生育模式通常适用于Abagusii和Abaluhya种族。在马赛人当中,妇女有相同数量的孩子,无论他们的位置。研究结果表明,妻子参与关于家庭规模的决策,计划生育,收入管理可能会对生育率产生抑制作用。妻子参加创收活动提高了她们的地位和自信心。结果表明,已婚妇女的地位不是静态的,统一,不变,但灵活,不断修改,并在适应过程中重新解释。
This study examines the influence of women\'s status in the household on family size and use of family planning in rural Kenya. The study relies on the theoretical framework of power relations of Lappe and Schurman (1990). The structure of decision-making power within the family, village, community, national governments, and international institutions influences the choices open to people. The power structure refers to the rules that determine who is allowed to participate in decision-making processes and how their views are part of the final decision. The study sample includes three ethnic groups: the Abaluhya of Sabatia region, Vihiga district; the Abagusii of Nyamachee division, Kisii district; and the Masai of Kilgoris division, Narok district. The random sample includes 200 currently married women aged 15-49 years among each ethnic group. Analysis is based on participant observation, interviews, and in-depth focus groups among selected women and elderly key informants. Findings indicate that 47.7% had high status, 40.5% had moderate status, and 14.5% had low status. The mean number of children was 4.5. The mean number of children was 4.1 for wives with high status, 4.4 for wives with moderate status, and 5.8 for wives with low status. This childbearing pattern applied in general and for both the Abagusii and Abaluhya ethnic groups. Among the Masai, women had the same number of children regardless of their position. Findings suggest that wives\' participation in decision making about family size, family planning, and management of income is likely to have a dampening effect on fertility. Wives participation in income generation activities improved their status and self-confidence. The results suggest that married women\'s status is not static, unified, and unchanging, but flexible, modified continually, and reinterpreted in an adaptive process.