Gynecology & Obstetrics
Open Access

Abstract

Antenatal and postnatal health care utilization in Bangladesh: A systemic literature review

Ashekur Rahman Mullick¹, Arifa Akter Jahan², Anika Ibnat Mullick³

Background: Antenatal care is the clinical assessment of mother and fetus, during the period of pregnancy used for getting the best possible result for the mother and child. Most of the developing countries like Bangladesh have undertaken significant progress in improving maternal health as well as to reduce maternal mortality rate (MMR). But the challenge in eliminating the inequity in application of ante-natal health care services still remains. Maternal mortality rate in Bangladesh is 176 deaths/1000,000 live births as compared to 30 deaths/100,00 live births in Sri Lanka. Objectives: The objective of the present study is to know about the pattern and trends of utilization of antenatal and postnatal health care services by mothers in Bangladesh. Study design: Descriptive systematic literature review. Material and methods: The relevant literature was systematically searched through different key words related to antenatal and postnatal health care utilization services in Bangladesh through different online research engines to accomplish this study. Results: Twenty research articles were included in this review article. It was found that last two decades, we cannot achieve the optimum progress towards antenatal and postnatal health care utilization services. The problem is much severe in rural areas of across the country, where a number of socio-cultural and program factors hinders women to utilize the basic health services. Mother’s education, household income, autonomous at household decision making and birth order are the significant factors that to utilize the antenatal and postnatal care in Bangladesh. Conclusion: There should be need to aware the mother about the importance of prenatal and postnatal visits. In rural areas, government should give some economic incentive for prenatal and postnatal visits. Furthermore, government should take necessary steps to tackle the problem by providing the easy access to the health care facilities.

Published Date: 2020-08-31; Received Date: 2020-08-01