Use of Modern Maternal Health Care by Mothers in Bangladesh: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Socio-economic status has a great influence on how women in particular socio-economic group perceive childbirth and childbirth related health care ultimately shape their maternal health care seeking behaviour. Based on secondary literature this paper aims to understand that perception and views and how that constructs childbirth care seeking behaviour. The paper also highlights the differentials in maternal health care among the women from lower and upper socio-economic households. The differentials which is often evident in inequality, leads many mothers towards the risk of developing conditions that may result in long-term maternal morbidities. On the other hand, the mothers from upper socio-economic are often over using the services and thereby adding further to the maternal health inequality. Explanations of the poor-rich gap in maternal health care goes beyond the economic ability or inability of the mothers and households. Rather, it requires an understanding of childbirth, maternal health and health care seeking behaviour of mothers in any given socio-economic condition.