In the shadow of men : reproductive decision-making and women"s psychological well-being in Indonesia

This study, based on surveys of 800 women in Lampung and South Sumatra, examines the processes involved in reproductive decisions in Indonesia and how they affect women"s self-image and their relationships with their spouses, children (in case of both wanted and unwanted pregnancy), and members of the extended family. The following questions are addressed: (1) Who is involved in a woman"s decision to start or stop using contraception or to switch methods, and how does a woman consider her own position in relation to others in the FP decisionmaking process? (2) What does a woman do when her own ideas regarding FP differ from those of others, and how does this affect her self-image and image of others? (3) How does the use or non-use of FP affect women"s psychological well-being? What other factors affect women"s psychological well-being? (4) What type of support do women receive from the FP program regarding reproductive decisionmaking and what must FP centers provide to help them cope with any attendant problems? Detailed and complex findings on women"s answers to these questions are provided in the report. Includes references.