“Girl Power!”: Women’s Autonomy and Children’s Immunization Status in Ethiopia

In recent years, many global initiatives have emphasized the importance of women’s autonomy in reducing childhood morbidity and mortality rates. In Sub-Saharan Africa, health organizations and initiatives have implemented immunization coverage as an effective means of reducing morbidity and mortality. Less than ¼ of Ethiopian children were fully immunized in 2011. In addition, low levels of autonomy among women due to early marriages and lack of education limit women’s abilities to improve their children’s health. This study analyzed how dimensions of women’s autonomy, decision making abilities and attitudes on wife beating, improves the immunization status of children 12-30 months using the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys. After controlling for all covariates, women who were able to make decisions concerning their mobility and finances were 2 times more likely to have fully immunized children, compared to women who did not have these decision making abilities, net of socioeconomic measures. In addition, women who did not find wife beating acceptable were more likely to fully immunized children compared to women who found wife beating acceptable. Future policy implications for child health in Ethiopia must focus on increasing the specific means through which women can have greater control of their lives.