title: Post-sterilization autonomy among young mothers in South India.
abstract: This study examined the post-sterilization autonomy of women in south India in the context of early sterilization and low fertility. Quantitative data were taken from the third round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) carried out in 2005-06, and qualitative data from one village each in Kerala and Tamil Nadu during 2010-11. The incident rate ratios and thematic analysis showed that among currently married women under the age of 30 years, those who had been sterilized had significantly higher autonomy in household decision-making and freedom of mobility compared with women who had never used any modern family planning method. Early age at sterilization and low fertility enables women to achieve the social status that is generally attained at later stages in the life-cycle. Policies to capitalize on women's autonomy and free time resulting from early sterilization and low fertility should be adopted in south India.
authors.affiliation: *Global Health and Social Care Unit, School of Health Sciences and Social Work,University of Portsmouth,UK.
authors.forename: Saseendran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pallikadavath
authors.affiliation: †Centre for Development Studies,Trivandrum,India.
authors.forename: Irudaya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rajan
authors.affiliation: *Global Health and Social Care Unit, School of Health Sciences and Social Work,University of Portsmouth,UK.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: *Global Health and Social Care Unit, School of Health Sciences and Social Work,University of Portsmouth,UK.
authors.forename: Reuben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ogollah
authors.affiliation: *Global Health and Social Care Unit, School of Health Sciences and Social Work,University of Portsmouth,UK.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008393:Marriage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult