PERTANIKA
Journal of Quality of Life Studies
Full-Length Research Article
Fertility decisions, gendered power, and the shaping of women’s lives in Rohingya refugee camps
Ferdousi Aktera
a
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dhaka, Bangladesh
Abstract
Reproductive decision-making is often framed as a service access or contraceptive uptake issue within humanitarian contexts, while its implications for women’s broader quality of life remain under-theorised. This qualitative case study explored how fertility decisions are structured within Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, and how these arrangements influence women’s lived well-being under protracted displacement. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Rohingya refugees and five humanitarian service providers, supported by contextual observations and field notes. Data were analysed thematically through inductive coding and interpretive mapping informed by empowerment theory and quality-of-life scholarship. Three interrelated themes emerged: cultural attitudes and gender norms shaping fertility behaviour; structural and contextual factors influencing reproductive practices; and perceived control and decision-making authority over reproduction. Findings showed that statelessness, demographic insecurity, patriarchal authority, and religiously framed norms shape reproductive decisions. Husbands and senior male family members usually hold decisive authority over childbirth and contraception, while women’s agency often appears through negotiated compliance or covert strategies. These governance arrangements affect women’s physical health, psychological security, social participation, and perceived life control. By conceptualising reproductive decision-making as a structural determinant of quality of life rather than solely a health behaviour, this study contributes a gendered reproductive power governance framework for analysing women’s well-being in humanitarian settings. The findings underscore the need for interventions that address household authority and community norms alongside reproductive health service provision.
Keywords: reproductive decision-making; gendered power; quality of life; displacement; Rohingya refugees; reproductive governance
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 5: Gender Equality
Cite As (APA)
Akter, F. (2026). Fertility decisions, gendered power, and the shaping of women’s lives in Rohingya refugee camps. Pertanika Journal of Quality of Life Studies, 1(1), Article e005
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