Abstract
The present study examines women’s decision-making power in their reproductive health matters. Women’s reproductive health decisions comprise various aspects, including decision to conceive, contraceptive use, family planning and maternal health care (delivery and pre- & post-natal care). A qualitative research method was used to explore attitudes and hurdles caused by family and societal pressure and perceptions about socio-cultural and religious norms and beliefs. The interviews consisted of semi-structured questions. For the present research, a small sample, eight working and non-working women were selected for semi-structured interviews by using self-constructed questions composed of eighteen items. Approximately sixteen sub-themes emerged after analyzing transcripts, which gave rise to four major themes, i.e. 1) Power in economic, negotiation & mobility domains; 2) decision making & reproductive health care; 3)hurdles due to family influence; and 4) socio-cultural & religious factors. The present research revealed that in urban society, despite their higher socio-economic status, women’s decision-making power in reproductive health is still suppressed by socio-cultural and religious factors prevailing all over the country.. The study explored reasons behind suppression of their reproductive health decisions and perceptions about existing socio-cultural and religious factors supporting oppression of women in urban society.