The Relationship Between Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Characteristics with the Desire to Have Children in Indonesia

Abstract

Introduction: the desire to have children is a key determinant of women’s fertility behavior, inherently linked to their role in childbirth. However, women’s empowerment in Indonesia remains low due to a persistent patriarchal culture limiting their decision-making autonomy. Men hold greater authority in decisions, including childbearing. The desire to have children is also influenced by demographic factors like age, education level, and place of residence. This study aims to examine the relationship between women’s empowerment and demographic characteristics in relation to the desire to have children among Indonesian women of reproductive age (15-49 years). Method: this study used secondary data from the 2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) with a cross-sectional design. Univariate analysis, Chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression examined the relationship between women's empowerment, demographic characteristics, and the desire to have children, using STATA version 15. Result: the findings indicate that several factors are significantly associated with the desire to have children. Women aged 40-49 years [AOR=37,48, 95 % CI=32,20-43,62], unemployed status [AOR=1,12, 95 % CI=1,05-1,20], the highest household wealth index [AOR=1,33, 95 % CI=1,17-1,53], history of primary school education [AOR: 1,34, 95 % CI=1,02-1,76], Women who agree with their attitude towards wife beating [AOR=0,90, 95 % CI=0,83-0,6], the wife has the right to refuse sex with her husband [AOR=1,10, 95 % CI=1,03-1,18] significantly related to the desire to have children. Conclusion: the desire to have children is influenced by both women's empowerment and demographic characteristics. Strengthening women's empowerment is crucial for fostering more equitable decision-making within families.