Table 2.

Barriers and facilitators themes for women's empowerment regarding fertility intentions and family planning.

Themes	Socio-ecological model levels
Barriers
Lack of critical consciousness
- No existence of choice  - Support of current system  - Negative perception of gender power changes  - Limited aspirations	Individual
Oppressive relationships
-Controlling behavior of husband  -Controlling behavior of family members  -Fear of consequences	Relationship
Role of traditions, culture, and gender expectations
- Early marriage and motherhood  - Gender roles/activities division in the household	Societal
Limited access to family planning and misinformation
- Lack or delay in receiving information  - Myths and misinformation	Societal
Facilitators
Access to economic resources
- Employment (paid)  - Access to loans and credit  - “Xitique”a	Individual
Building critical consciousness
- Opening the mind  - Change in self-perception (self-value)  - Aspirations  - Voicing their choices	Individual
Negative experiences as triggers of empowerment
- Adverse events that lead women to take control	Relationship
Building collective power
- Social networks of support (e.g., associations, women's groups)  - Role models	Societal
Access to information
- Access to education  - Access to family planning services and information	Societal

^aXitique is an informal saving and credit mechanism at the community level, organized among several people who know each other.