Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Dowry Practices And Their Negative Consequences From A Female Perspective In Karachi, Pakistan —A Qualitative Study, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Gunnhildur Árnadóttir, Asli Kulane

Tazeen Ali

Aim: To assess the pattern, demand and opinion of dowry among women in urban Karachi, Pakistan and their perceived negative consequences of dowry. Setting: Pakistan is a low income country, predominantly Muslim, with around 190 million inhabitants. Karachi is the biggest city with roughly 13 million inhabitants. Method: Qualitative study, using content analysis of five focus group discussions with women. Results: The theme “Dowry practices and their consequences” emerged, along with five categories and 14 subcategories, describing the “burden of dowry”, “dowry in society”, “dowry problems created by parents-in-law”, “negative consequences of dowry practice” and “good intentions”. Conclusion: Problems due …