A cohort study to examine the dynamics of decision-making process for maternal health care services in a rural area of Bangladesh

BACKGROUND
Maternal health care is a complex and dynamic system that exhibits variations among the interacting entities. The decision-making process of seeking and receiving maternal health care is multi-dimensional and affected by various factors at different levels and often does not reflect the desires of the mother. Decision-making in maternal health is considered essential in a range of situations, from health care seeking and utilization to choosing among birthplaces and treatment options. A comprehensive understanding of the decision-making processes in maternal health services is crucial to explaining these data and closing these gaps. To understand this decision-making process, a prospective cohort study has been conducted both in urban & rural settings. This study is an extension of the urban cohort study in a rural setting.

OBJECTIVES

  • To examine the process of decision making around maternal health care seeking in rural settings.
  • To understand the factors (individual, family, community, and health systems & services) that influence the decision making around maternal health care seeking.

STUDY AREA
Baliakandi upazila of Rajbari District.

PARTNERS
Child Health & Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) project of icddr,b

STATUS
Completed

DATE OF RESULT DISSEMINATION
25 June 2023

FOCAL PERSON
Shams El Arifeen shams@icddrb.org
Dr Mahbub Elahi Chowdhury melahi@icddrb.org

RESOURCES
Dissemination slide_Cohort Study
Understanding the dynamics of decision- making for maternal health care services in selected rural and urban areas of Bangladesh
RDM Cohort Study Final Report