Middle East

The literature documenting drastic fertility declines in developing countries has largely focused on investigating the determinants of contraceptive use and the role contraceptives have played in declining fertility rates. In contrast, there has been limited research on the impact of family planning use on women’s social status. Using retrospective data from the 2009 Tehran Fertility Survey, this study examined the impact of contraceptive use on women’s educational advancement as an indicator of women’s empowerment. Multinomial logistic analyses indicated that compared with contraceptive nonusers, women using modern contraceptives before a first birth were more likely to experience a one to two year increase in education level after marriage, when controlling for other factors. Women in the most recent marriage cohorts were more likely to continue their education after marriage, especially those who were using modern contraceptives as opposed to traditional methods. Findings of this research clearly indicate that family planning use after marriage enables women to improve their education by freeing them from reproductive activities. 

This study assesses the impact of contraceptive use and delayed childbearing on urban married women’s ability to seek educational and employment opportunities after marriage in Tehran.  The paper examines trends across three marriage cohorts, based on a 2009 survey collected by the author examining birth and contraceptive histories and education and employment status of husbands and wives over the life-course.

Child marriage is increasingly recognized as a serious problem, both as a violation of girls’ human rights and as a hindrance to key development outcomes. As more resources and action are committed to addressing this problem, it becomes important to examine past efforts and how well they have worked. ICRW summarizes a systematic review of child marriage prevention programs that have documented evaluations. Based on this synthesis of evaluated programs, the authors offer an analysis of the broader implications for viable solutions to child marriage.

ICRW and its partners, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) in Uganda and Hassan II University in Morocco, with support from UNFPA, undertook a three-country study in Bangladesh, Morocco and Uganda to estimate the economic costs of intimate partner violence at the household and community levels, where its impact is most direct and immediate. The focus on intimate partner violence was motivated by the fact that this is the most common form of violence against women. A household and community level analysis helps to shed light on intimate partner violence's relationship to both household economic vulnerability and the extent to which scarce public resources for essential health, security and infrastructure services are diverted due to such violence.

Economic growth and trade liberalization can transform the institution of marriage by increasing employment opportunities for women. Marriage, especially early marriage of adolescent girls, may become less economically essential as young women become financially independent. The case studies presented in this paper show, culture mediates the impact of economic change on marriage differently in different contexts, thus prohibiting any generalizations about trade liberalization and marriage. As countries implement liberal trade policies, or otherwise alter these regimes, it is crucial that scholars, activists and policymakers are aware of the potential divergent socioeconomic effects that could result, both those intended and unintended.

Violence against women is increasingly seen as a key development issue that undermines economic growth. ICRW and local partners undertook a three-country study to estimate these costs at the household and community level. This brief outlines key findings.