"Girl Power!": The Relationship between Women's Autonomy and Children's Immunization Coverage in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND Although immunizations are efficient and cost effective methods of reducing child mortality, worldwide, approximately 2 million children die yearly of vaccine-preventable diseases. Researchers and health organizations have detailed information on the positive relationship between women's autonomy and children's health outcomes in developing countries. METHODS This study investigates the links between women's household autonomy and children's immunization status using data from a nationally representative sample of children aged 12-30 months (N = 2941) from the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. RESULTS The results showed that women's socioeconomic status and household autonomy were significantly associated with children's immunization status. CONCLUSION Overall, the implications of this study align with those of the Millennium Development Goal #3: improvements in women's household autonomy are linked to more positive child health outcomes.