The Impact of Re-Partnering on Women's Decision-Making Autonomy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from Demographic and Health Surveys

Vissého Adjiwanou, Université Du Québec à Montréal

This paper investigates the influence of re-partnering on women's decision-making autonomy in sub-Saharan Africa, a region where research on this topic is scarce. Leveraging data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 30 countries, we distinguish between formal marriage and remarriage from cohabitation or re-cohabitation. Our analysis reveals that, relative to women in their first marriage, remarried women exhibit a higher likelihood of experiencing elevated levels of autonomy across three dimensions—health-related decisions, visiting family, and major purchases—in 11 out of the 30 countries studied. Furthermore, women in a second cohabitation consistently demonstrate increased autonomy compared to married women, a trend observed across all 30 countries and for each dimension of autonomy examined. Additionally, our findings highlight that these effects are more pronounced within polygamous couples than within monogamous ones. These results underscore the necessity of nuanced attention to the diverse forms of union prevalent across the continent.