IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GENDER NORMS ON REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY AMONG MARRIED WOMEN IN PAKISTAN: A STRUCTURED LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Reproductive autonomy remains a critical challenge in Pakistan, where traditional gender norms and patriarchal structures heavily influence women’s health outcomes. Objective: This structured review synthesizes evidence on how sociocultural norms and household power dynamics affect reproductive decision-making and contraceptive autonomy among married women in Pakistan.

Methodology: Following PRISMA guidelines, 50 peer-reviewed studies (2016–2026) were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar.

Findings: Results identify four primary barriers: (1) Household Power: Husbands and mothers-in-law act as primary gatekeepers; (2) Sociocultural Drivers: Son preference and early marriage reduce women’s bargaining power; (3) Health Systems: Lady Health Workers (LHWs) are vital but limited by community stigma; and (4) Structural Gaps: An "autonomy paradox" exists where education increases awareness but does not always override traditional relational hierarchies. Significant provincial and urban-rural disparities persist. Conclusion: Reproductive agency in Pakistan is restricted by multi-level normative barriers. Interventions must move beyond individual empowerment to address the relational and structural determinants of autonomy.