Abstract
Low women’s empowerment probably constitutes a key obstacle to healthcare utilisation in Africa, given the importance of gender inequalities in this region. However, evidence on the association between women’s empowerment and facility delivery in Cameroon is rare. We provided one of the first studies that examine the association between women’s empowerment and health facility delivery in Cameroon. Our study demonstrates that women’s intra-household decision-making power is associated with a higher probability of using health facility during childbirth. Women that have the final say (alone or jointly with their husband/partner) on their own health care have a higher probability to give birth in a health facility. In addition, the selection equation estimates show those women’s empowerment increases with control over assets, namely land and house. Therefore, policies enhancing land rights equity have the potential to increase women’s empowerment which in turns will improve maternal health through health facility utilisation.