Why Values Matter: Family Planning in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe

In many parts of the world, people want to have a say in their families - how many kids, when, and if they want them at all. This is called reproductive agency. We looked into how this freedom is linked with values and attitudes about sexual health, reproductive rights, and gender equality in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. We used data from the 2020-21 World Values Survey and created ways to measure people's views. Turns out, where you live, your education, social class, and religion matter. People who support gender equality and reproductive rights tend to have more control over their family planning. This was more different between countries than between men and women. So, it seems that valuing equality and reproductive rights gives people more say in their families. This means that countries should adjust their programs to fit the values and experiences of their people. And it's crucial to let people speak for themselves, not just guess, to make global plans for reproductive health work better.