reproductive age women`s experiences about empowerment in family planning: a qualitative study

reproductive age women`s experiences about empowerment in family planning: a qualitative study     kohan s [1] , simbarm [2] *, talaghani f [3]     received: 31 aug, 2012 accepted: 02 dec, 2012       abstract   background & aims : women's empowerment is a process of the expansion in women`s ability and freedom to make strategic life choices, especially empowering them for decision making about family planning and fertility desires. the study aimed to comprehend the experiences of women about empowerment in family planning.   materials & methods : in this qualitative study, data were gathered from 35 married women who eligible for contraception use at childbearing age. seven focus group discussion sessions and five individual interviews were recorded and analyzed using qualitative content analysis method.   result : analysis of data showed that four main category as a meaning of empowerment in family planning in view of participants :1- control over fertility plan 2- partnership in family planning 3- maintaining health 4- access to family planning services.   conclusion: in view of participants, with knowledge about family planning and autonomy for decision making they gain control over their fertility plan. couples agreement in fertility desires and partner`s support in implementing family planning result in a partnership for family planning. planned pregnancy, safe and appropriate contraception methods help women to maintain their health. access to desired contraception methods during couple counseling and well treatment of side effects occur in use of contraception methods were highly emphasized. thus to achieve empowerment in family planning we need to be planning it in the family, society and health systems.   key words: women empowerment, family planning, control over fertility, qualitative content analysis     address: tehran, vali-asr avenue, above the mir damad, cross of vali-asr and neiaiesh highway, opposite to rajaee heart hospital, faculty of nursing and midwifery shahid beheshti, third floor, postal code: 1996835119   tel: (+98)2188202516   email : [email protected]   [1] assistant professor, nursing and midwifery faculty, isfahan university of medical sciences nursing & midwifery care research centre  [2] associate professor, faculty of nursing and midwifery of shahid beheshti medical science university (corresponding author)*  [3] associate professor, nursing and midwifery faculty, isfahan university of medical sciences nursing & midwifery care research centre