REPRODUCTIVE AGE WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES ABOUT EMPOWERMENT IN FAMILY PLANNING: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

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. 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. 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. 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.