Purdah, mobility and women's empowerment and reproductive behaviour in rural Bangladesh

In Bangladesh traditionally women's mobility is restricted. Even if they go out, observance of purdah (the Muslim custom of veiling and segregating women) is common among the Muslims. This situation has prevented them from discussing their reproductive needs to health personnel and the peer groups. Observance of purdah and mobility are associated with the several measures of socio-economic status including husband and wife's occupation and education. Over the last two decades there has been remarkable social change in the use of purdah. With the introduction of micro-credit programmes in the rural areas many poor women do not strictly observe purdah nowadays as found a decade ago. Their mobility has increased outside home and an attitude towards modern views including use of contraception has increased. They now take part in household decision making process. As a result of their independent earnings their status in the family as well in the society has increased and they are now empowered. The results suggest women who are members of the credit group are more likely to be contraceptive users than the women who are not participating in the credit programme. In weekly meetings of the credit programmes several social developmental discussions such as to have a small family size and its benefit, reproductive health issues, children's education and marriages; women's rights and privileges are highlighted. These all contributed to a change at the individual level and consequently in the society. Thus, observance of purdah, mobility and attitude towards modern views and exposures have changed and this change have indirectly contributed to reproductive behavior of women.