Socio-Economic Barriers to Maternal Health Care in Rural Bangladesh

Objective: To outline the specific socio-economic barriers to maternal health faced by Bangladeshi women.

Study Design: Review and Analysis of Literature

Background: Bangladesh is a country with over one third of the population living in poverty and another one third living just above poverty level. The World Health Organization (2010) indicates that Bangladesh has poor prenatal and postpartum care, nutritional deficiencies, high incidence of non-skilled birth attendant utilization, and the second highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates next to sub-Saharan Africa. Women living in Bangladesh are at high risk for maternal mortality and morbidity in the postpartum period directly related to socio-economic status.

Conclusion: The need for socio-economic relief for women living in rural Bangladesh remains an issue that needs to be addressed to fully address maternal health and maternal morbidities in the postpartum period.