Healthcare-Seeking Behavior of Coastal Women in Bangladesh

Background: Healthcare seeking behavior encompasses actions taken by individuals who perceive themselves to be ill in an attempt to find appropriate remedies. For women, particularly in regions like coastal Bangladesh, socio-cultural and economic barriers often impede their ability to access and utilize healthcare services effectively. Understanding these behaviors is crucial for developing strategies to improve healthcare access and utilization. Objective: To assess the healthcare-seeking behavior of coastal women in Bangladesh, evaluating the quality of services provided and identifying barriers to effective healthcare utilization. Method: This descriptive, community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1, 2019, to August 31, 2019, in three randomly selected villages in coastal Bangladesh. A sample of 200 women aged 20 years and above was surveyed using a pre-designed, semi-structured questionnaire. The study analyzed sociodemographic data and healthcare-seeking behavior, including preferences for healthcare practices and decision-making autonomy. Results: The study revealed that 35% of participants had inhibitions about discussing health issues with family members, and 42% required family permission to access healthcare services. Conversely, 65.5% were able to make their own healthcare decisions. Regarding first-choice healthcare practices, 60.5% preferred visiting qualified medical practitioners, while 19.5% consulted Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs), and 15.5% relied on home remedies. Notably, married women (71.6%) were more likely to make their own healthcare decisions compared to unmarried (53.2%) and widowed (68.2%) women. Literate women showed greater awareness of available health centers (80.6%) compared to illiterate women (56.7%). Conclusion: The findings underscore significant barriers in healthcare access among coastal women, including the need for family permission and reliance on non-qualified practitioners. Socioeconomic ......