Degree

Master of Science in Economics

Faculty / School

School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)

Department

Department of Economics

Date of Submission

2026-07-06

Supervisor

Dr. Amir Jahan Khan, Associate Professor and Program Director, Undergraduate Programs, Economics

Project Type

MSECO Research Project

Access Type

Restricted Access

Keywords

Maternal health, Financial autonomy, Antenatal care, Postnatal care, Women's  empowerment

JEL Code

I12, I14, I15, J16, J13

Abstract

Maternal health outcomes in Pakistan remain a pressing concern, with persistent disparities in antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care utilization. This study investigates the impact of financial autonomy on maternal health in Pakistan using nationally representative data from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017–18. A particular focus is placed on women’s employment status and type of employment, categorized as not employed, employed without cash earnings, and employed for cash, to capture the nuanced role of financial autonomy in shaping healthcare utilization. To complement this, the study constructs two indices using Principal Component Analysis (PCA): (i) an Empowerment Index based on decision-making power, financial inclusion, and reproductive autonomy; and (ii) an Access to Health Care Services Index capturing financial, cultural, and mobility constraints in accessing health care services. A logistic regression model is employed to assess the impact of financial autonomy, controlling for education, wealth, region, age, exposure to domestic violence, and contraceptive use.

The results indicate that higher empowerment and improved access to health care services are significantly associated with increased use of maternal health services. The effects of employment are mixed: paid employment is associated with lower overall utilization in the odds estimates, although it shows positive effects for specific outcomes such as tetanus vaccination and postnatal care in marginal terms. In contrast, unpaid or in-kind employment exhibits largely insignificant effects across most indicators. Education and wealth consistently remain positive predictors across all outcomes, while rural residence and certain regions, particularly Balochistan and FATA, show substantial disadvantages.

By constructing multidimensional measures of empowerment and access to health care services using PCA, and by differentiating types of employment, this study provides nuanced insights into how financial autonomy affects maternal health. The findings highlight the importance of integrated empowerment strategies and suggest that improving maternal health in Pakistan requires not only increasing women's economic participation but also strengthening their decision-making power and reducing structural barriers to healthcare access.

Pages

ix, 38

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