REPRODUCTIVE AGE WOMEN`S EXPERIENCES ABOUT EMPOWERMENT IN FAMILY PLANNING: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Women's empowerment is a process of the expansion in women`s ability and
freedom to make strategic life choices, especially empowering them for decision making about family
planning and fertility desires. The study Aimed to comprehend the experiences of women about
empowerment in family planning.
Materials & Methods: In this qualitative study, data were gathered from 35 married women who
eligible for contraception use at childbearing age. Seven focus group discussion sessions and five
individual interviews were recorded and analyzed using qualitative content analysis method.
Result: Analysis of data showed that four main category as a meaning of empowerment in family
planning in view of participants :1- control over fertility plan 2- partnership in family planning 3-
maintaining health 4- access to family planning services.
Conclusion: in view of participants, with knowledge about family planning and autonomy for decision
making they gain control over their fertility plan. Couples agreement in fertility desires and partner`s
support in implementing family planning result in a partnership for family planning. Planned
pregnancy, safe and appropriate contraception methods help women to maintain their health. Access to
desired contraception methods during couple counseling and well treatment of side effects occur in use
of contraception methods were highly emphasized. Thus to achieve empowerment in family planning
we need to be planning it in the family, society and health systems.