Women’s Autonomy and Reproductive Healthcare-Seeking Behavior in Bangladesh: Further Analysis of the 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract

Women's autonomy or empowerment is an important issue to achieve targets for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Bangladesh. There are several indicators to measure the women empowerment. Health seeking information is one of the most important indicators in this view. This study aims at identifying women's maternal and child health-care seeking in relation to women empowerment in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2014 data was used for the study. A total of 1875 women of reproductive age with complete information on the selected predictors were identified for this analysis by multistage stratified cluster sampling design. Multiple logistic regression and X 2 statistic were used to study determinant factors. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Among 1875 women sampled, 87.7% and 88.5% were received antenatal care and postnatal care respectively. Out of women who resided in urban areas, 91.2% women got postnatal care and 93.7% women received antenatal care where as only 83.4% rural women's get antenatal care and 86.6% women got postnatal care respectively. Division, type of residence, respondent's education level, wealth index, decision maker for using contraception, partner's education level, respondent's currently working status, beating justified if wife goes out without telling husband, neglects the children, argues with husband, refuses to have sex with husband, burns the food respectively, women's body mass index and age of 1st birth were found to be statistically significant determinants of receiving antenatal care. Type of residence, wealth index, respondent's currently working status, person who usually decides on visits to family or relatives, beating justified if wife argues with husband were found to be statistically significant determinants of receiving postnatal care. In summary, our analysis highlights concerning continuing healthcare-seeking challenges in Bangladesh. This study explores the factors associated with women's autonomy and reproductive healthcare-seeking behavior in Bangladesh.

Role of women's empowerment in determining fertility and reproductive health in Bangladesh: a systematic literature review

“…During the initial literature search, we found that there were very few studies discussing women's empowerment–related issues in FRH control in Bangladesh. 17 , 38 , 45 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 57 Most of these studies were cross-sectional in nature, and we did not find any review-based studies on this topic. As a first initiative to address all these issues, we reviewed several Bangladesh-based articles from different time periods to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between women's empowerment and fertility and reproductive behavior.…”

“…Respondents’ employment status and wealth index were not truly reflective of their employment situation at the time of each birth. Afroja et al, 49 2018 Women's education, wealth index, decision maker for using contraception, partner's education, women's working status, beating justified if wife goes out without telling husband, neglects the children, argues with husband, refuses to have sex with husband, burns the food. 1.…”

“…However, recent literature suggests that women's empowerment–related factors also contribute to FRH control. 5 , 38 , 49 , 51 Although social and health factors directly influence fertility control, it is hypothesized that women's empowerment is also linked to FRH. 5 , 15 , 49 , 51 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 Understanding current and total fertility is essential for monitoring population growth and developing policies and programs.…”

“… 5 , 38 , 49 , 51 Although social and health factors directly influence fertility control, it is hypothesized that women's empowerment is also linked to FRH. 5 , 15 , 49 , 51 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 Understanding current and total fertility is essential for monitoring population growth and developing policies and programs. The fundamental drivers of population growth, namely human FRH outcomes, are influenced by various individual, household, community, national, and regional characteristics.…”

Women empowerment and sexually transmitted infections: Evidence from Bangladesh demographic and health survey 2014

“…Likewise, evidence from LMIC shows that women empowerment is associated with healthcare-seeking behaviours, the use of contraceptives, household decision-making, employment status, and freedom of movement [18]. In Bangladesh, a similar association was reflected between women's autonomy and healthcare service uptake [13,19]. As most women in Bangladesh are submissive to their partners' requests, this influences their sexual and reproductive health [20].…”