Determinants of health care empowerment among married women in reproductive age based on Theory of Planned Behavior

The optimal level of women's capability can empower them to make the decision independently of the main issues of their health. This study aimed to identify the determinants of health care empowerment based on the Theory of Planned Behavior among married women in the reproductive age of southern Tehran.

In this analytical cross-sectional study, 488 married women in reproductive ages which had attended in health care centers in southern Tehran in 2019. Data collecting instruments were three-part questionnaires including demographic information, researcher-made questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behavior and Healthcare Empowerment Questionnaires (HCEQ). Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis using fit indices in the SPSS-24 and AMOS-22.

The mean age of participants was 33.6 ± 7.1. Subjective norm (P < 0.001 ،β = 0.18) in comparison to attitude (P < 0.001 ،β = 0.62) had greater predictive power for intention behavior. According to the results of path analysis, 30% of the variance of behavioral intention, 0.03 of the variance of decision dimension, 0.02 of the variance of interaction dimension, and 0.05 of the variance of control degree were explained using the model constructs, and the study results revealed that the attitude and subjective norm constructs were the best predictors of health care delivery behavior (P < 0.001).

The results show that the perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention are not reliable predictors of health care empowerment among married women in reproductive age. Other psychological, social, and cultural determinants should be investigated to find the main determinants to improve women’s healthcare empowerment