Provision of primary healthcare centers and women's healthcare-seeking behaviour: Evidence from Bangladesh

Mohammad Riaz Uddin

Social Science & Medicine, 2025, vol. 375, issue C

Abstract: This study examines the association between the establishment of primary healthcare providers- community clinics (CCs)- and healthcare-seeking behavior in Bangladesh. Initiated in 1998, CCs aim to provide accessible healthcare services to remote households, particularly focusing on women and children. Using cluster-level data on healthcare provider availability alongside individual-level data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) for 2011, 2014, and 2017-18, the respective sample sizes are 17842, 17886, and 20127 ever-married women, the study offers robust estimates that address endogeneity concerns present in individual-level analyses. Lagged health indicators are utilized to consider contextual factors influencing CC establishment in specific regions. Results indicate positive associations between CC presence and various healthcare-seeking behaviors, such as increased contraceptive use, higher attendance at antenatal care visits, and improved treatment-seeking for children's illnesses. Notably, rural-urban disparities in healthcare-seeking behavior highlight existing access inequalities. To mitigate this divide, the study recommends expanding CCs nationwide, demonstrating that low-cost healthcare interventions can enhance healthcare-seeking behaviors and suggest potential scalability in similar contexts.

Keywords: Bangladesh; Primary health care; Community clinics; Healthcare-seeking behaviour; Women (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118079

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