{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,9]],"date-time":"2026-09-09T15:44:03Z","timestamp":1788968643264,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]],"date-time":"2025-07-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752019200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Studies in Family Planning"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>Improving women's agency in family planning is an integral component of empowerment, requiring culturally relevant, reliable, and valid measures. Measuring agency\u2014action towards the achievement of self\u2010determined goals\u2014is key to tracking progress as highlighted by its inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, agency measurement within low\u2010 and middle\u2010income contexts has all too often involved applying measures developed and tested in high\u2010income contexts, and conceptual confusion has also led to both overlapping measures and those that omit key facets of agency. To examine the construction and application of agency measures in family planning research and programs, we conducted a scoping review of studies in low\u2010and middle\u2010income countries. Of 9,289 articles and abstracts screened, 72 met our inclusion criteria and included family planning outcomes. We identified 58 unique measures. Most measures were summative and described psychometric testing. Measures often included family planning\u2010specific items, generally focused on contraceptive use with less attention to areas such as communication, access to services, or fertility timing. While increased interest in measuring family planning agency is evident, inconsistencies in measurement hinder cross\u2010contextual comparisons. As family planning research and programs adopt empowerment\u2010focused benchmarks, validated measures of agency are needed to accurately assess impact.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/sifp.70025","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]],"date-time":"2025-07-09T14:08:19Z","timestamp":1752070099000},"page":"621-641","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Agency in Family Planning: A Scoping Review of the Measurement of Agency in Low\u2010 and Middle\u2010Income Countries"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"56","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9501-0601","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francine","family":"Wood","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Courtney","family":"McLarnon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah","family":"Smith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nitya","family":"Yerabandi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lotus","family":"McDougal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_10_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889\u2010021\u201011110\u20102"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Agha Sohail BrooksMorgan HelenaArcher ShadaePaul JosephBabigumira andBrandonGuthrie.2020. \u201cUnderstanding the Mechanism through Which Unfavorable Social Norms Affect Contraceptive Use.\u201d BMC Public Health Preprint (Version 1).https:\/\/doi.org\/10.21203\/rs.3.rs\u2010116933\/v1","DOI":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-116933\/v1"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978\u2010020\u201000976\u2010x"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_5_1","unstructured":"Asghar Khudejha CourtneyMcLarnon andLotusMcDougal.2023. \u201cConceptualizing and Measuring Agency in Low\u2010 and Middle\u2010 Income Countries: Scoping Review Protocol.\u201d OSF Preprint.https:\/\/doi.org\/10.17605\/osf.Io\/swqvd."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0140\u20106736(07)60367\u20105"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0140\u20106736(21)00990\u20109"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/26410397.2022.2062161"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_9_1","unstructured":"Bhan Nandita EdwinThomas AnvitaDixit et\u00a0al.2020. \u201cMeasuring Women's Agency and Gender Norms in Family Planning: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go? EMERGE [Evidence\u2010Based Measures of Empowerment for Research on Gender Equality].\u201dhttps:\/\/emerge.ucsd.edu\/wp\u2010content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/GEHs\u2010White\u2010Paper\u2010on\u2010Measuring\u2010Womens\u2010Agency\u2010and\u2010Gender\u2010Norms\u2010in\u2010Family\u2010Planning.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_10_1","volume-title":"Norms in the Wild: How to Diagnose, Measure, and Change Social Norms","author":"Bicchieri Cristina.","year":"2016"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.9745\/ghsp\u2010d\u201024\u201000121"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2014.09.015"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20043614"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2017.01482"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_15_1","unstructured":"DeGraw Erin andElisabethRottach.2021. \u201cMale Engagement in Family Planning: Understanding Global Policy Barriers and Enablers.\u201d Palladium Health Policy Plus."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13545701.2019.1683757"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_17_1","unstructured":"Edmeades Jeffrey CarolinaMejia JenniferParsons andMerojiSebany.2018. \u201cA Conceptual Framework for Reproductive Empowerment: Empowering Individuals and Couples to Improve Their Health (Background Paper).\u201dWashington DC:International Center for Research on Women."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.9745\/ghsp\u2010d\u201022\u201000030"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_19_1","unstructured":"Family Planning 2020 Rights & Empowerment Working Group.2014. \u201cRights and Empowerment: Principles for Family Planning.\u201dhttps:\/\/www.fp2030.org\/resources\/resources\u2010family\u2010planning\u20102020\u2010rights\u2010empowerment\u2010principles\u2010family\u2010planning\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7448\/ias.20.1.21554"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003060635-5"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0140\u20106736(19)30651\u20108"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/her\/18.2.171"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0140\u20106736(19)30648\u20108"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssmph.2019.100473"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.9745\/ghsp\u2010d\u201023\u201000299"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/padr.12688"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1467\u20107660.00125"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0197366"},{"issue":"154","key":"e_1_2_10_30_1","first-page":"203","article-title":"The Impact of Cultural Context on Brazilian Adolescents' Sexual Practices","volume":"39","author":"Levinson Ruth A.","year":"2004","journal-title":"Adolescence"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1363\/45e7419"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_32_1","unstructured":"Mandal Mahua andLisa M.Albert.2020. \u201cReproductive Empowerment Scale: Psychometric Validation in Nigeria.\u201dChapel Hill NC:MEASURE Evaluation University of North Carolina.https:\/\/www.measureevaluation.org\/resources\/publications\/tr\u201020\u2010393."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12884\u2010017\u20101500\u20108"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13063\u2010019\u20103297\u20104"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1363\/46e9920"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889\u2010018\u20105331\u2010y"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_37_1","volume-title":"Women's Empowerment, Population Dynamics, and Socioeconomic Development","author":"National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine","year":"2025"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41591\u2010024\u201003036\u20100"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905\u2010018\u20100664\u20103"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.11124\/jbies\u201020\u201000167"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2024.116879"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_42_1","unstructured":"Richardson Emma.2014. \u201c\u2018Uno Tiene Que Cuidar Tambi\u00e9n De S\u00ed Mismo\u2019: Guatemalan Family Planning Decisions in the Context of Social Cognitive Theory and a Political Economy Approach.\u201d PhD diss. Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto Canada."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467\u20106494.2006.00420.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0232526"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978\u2010020\u201001019\u20101"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_46_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/sifp.12231"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913\u2010022\u201008200\u20101"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/heapol\/czw074"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_49_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0140\u20106736(19)32717\u20105"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_50_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7326\/m18\u20100850"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_51_1","unstructured":"United Nations.1995. \u201cReport of the International Conference on Population and Development.\u201dhttps:\/\/www.un.org\/development\/desa\/pd\/sites\/www.un.org.development.desa.pd\/files\/icpd_en.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_52_1","unstructured":"United Nations.2015. \u201cTransforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.\u201dhttps:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/2030agenda."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_53_1","unstructured":"Veritas Health Innovation.2023.Covidence Systematic Review Software."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_54_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2190\/PM.48.3.a"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_55_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0153907"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_56_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0003\u2010066x.54.8.594"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_57_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/19485560903054721"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_58_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yount Kathryn M. ZaraKhan Stephanie SpaidMiedema Yuk FaiCheong andRuchira TabassumNaved.2020. \u201cThe Women's Agency Scale 61 (Was\u201061): A Comprehensive Measure of Women's Intrinsic Instrumental and Collective Agency.\u201d Socially Responsible Investment eJournal.https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2139\/ssrn.3670180.","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.3670180"}],"container-title":["Studies in Family Planning"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/sifp.70025","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T10:01:30Z","timestamp":1760176890000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/sifp.70025"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]]},"references-count":57,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,9]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1111\/sifp.70025"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/sifp.70025","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["0039-3665","1728-4465"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0039-3665","type":"print"},{"value":"1728-4465","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-07-09","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}