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Space, Agency, and Withdrawal: Birth Control Choices of Women in Turkey
Authors: Sirkeci I, Cindoglu D.
Source: Health Care for Women International, 33(7):614-30. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2012.655384.
Topic(s): Contraception
Women's health
Country: Asia
  Turkey
Published: JUN 2012
Abstract: Withdrawal (WD) is not a reliable method for preventing unwanted pregnancies, yet it is still a very popular form of birth control in many societies, including Turkey. We look at the relationship between women's agency and physical space in relation to birth control choices of women in Turkey. Agency in our context refers to a woman's ability to resist domination and subordination to the patriarchal beliefs valuing her reproductivity over her pleasure. Our analysis of the Turkish Demographic Health Survey (TDHS) suggests that (a) the available space in the household for possible private encounters between husband and wife, and (b) the women's capacity to insert her agency into her life choices are closely correlated with WD choices. Women with better social and physical resources prefer WD less.