ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Glob. Women’s Health
Sec. Quality of Life
Intersectionality and women's empowerment in the decision of Hysterectomy: an inquiry using data from large cross sectional sample survey in India
Provisionally accepted
Anuj Kumar Pandey1,2
Dyah Anantalia Widyastari1*
Benson Thomas M3
Sajana Panolan3Pattraporn Chuenglertsiri1Bhubate Samutachak1- 1Mahidol University Institute for Population and Social Research, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
- 2International Institute of Health Management Research - New Delhi, New Delhi, India
- 3SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University) School of Public Health, Kattankulathur, India
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Abstract: Background: Inspired by feminist theory and Durkheim's social perspective, this study explored intersectionality to delve into hysterectomy determinants. Methods: Using data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of India, we examined the determinants of hysterectomy, focusing on three broad themes: Society, Women's empowerment, and biological factors. Result: The overall hysterectomy rate in India increased from 31.5 per 1000 women (age 15-49 years) during 2015-16 to 32.6/1000 women during 2019-21. The results of bivariate and multivariate echoes the findings of the interaction analysis indicating that among general caste women, illiteracy and higher parity correlate with increased hysterectomy likelihood. Illiterate Other Backward Caste women, regardless of parity, also exhibited higher hysterectomy rates, regardless of parity. The second interaction result states that wealth influences hysterectomy; illiteracy remains a significant risk factor across wealth statuses. The results from the third intersection state that higher education emerges as a protective factor against hysterectomy, regardless of residence or parity. Conclusion: From the intersection of variables, the study observed that illiteracy, residing in rural areas, and high parity increase the likelihood of undergoing hysterectomy among women of reproductive age. There is a need to establish a mechanism for disseminating reproductive knowledge among women in rural areas.
Keywords: Hysterectomy, Intersectionality, society, Women empowerment, Biological Factors
Received: 01 Jul 2025; Accepted: 24 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Pandey, Widyastari, M, Panolan, Chuenglertsiri and Samutachak. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Dyah Anantalia Widyastari, dyah.ana@mahidol.edu
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