Women’s power and anthropometric status in Zimbabwe

The relationship between household decision-making and married women’s anthropometry — based on data from the 1994 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey — is analyzed. Power is based on whether the wife has say over major purchases, her working, or the number of children. It is found that women who have no say in household decisions are significantly more likely to have a lower body mass index and chronic energy deficiency. Furthermore, women’s resources affect this relationship: it is strongest among women who have no cash income of their own. Social factors in Zimbabwe that may explain these results are considered.