Identifying Factors Associated With Low Maternal Health Care Seeking Behavior in Bangladesh: Does Women's Autonomy Matter?

Type Journal Article - Women's Reproductive Health
Title Identifying Factors Associated With Low Maternal Health Care Seeking Behavior in Bangladesh: Does Women's Autonomy Matter?
Author(s)
Volume 4
Issue 2
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2017
Page numbers 115-125
URL http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23293691.2017.1326253
Abstract
Maternal health care seeking behavior (HSB) is a vital determinant of the overall maternal and child health of a country. The present study, which focused on women's autonomy as an important factor in the care-seeking behavior of women, is based on data from BDHS 2014, a nationally representative survey in Bangladesh. A total of 17,863 ever-married women (age 15 years and older) were enrolled in the study. Results showed that, after we controlled for all other predictive variables, higher autonomy status of women remained significantly associated with HSB (OR 1.31, CI 1.025, 1.674). Eliminating disparities in social class and stigma and challenging traditional and religious beliefs through mass media may help to alleviate the unmet health seeking.

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