Inequalities in utilization of maternal reproductive health care services in urban Bangladesh: a population-based study

This study examined inequalities in the utilization of maternal reproductive health care services in urban Bangladesh. Data of 6,617 urban women were extracted from most recent two rounds of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, conducted in the years 2011 and 2014. Inequalities in the utilization of antenatal checkup, receiving care from a skilled birth attendant, delivery in health care facilities, and postnatal care were investigated through concentration index. Contributions of selected predictors to inequalities were estimated by using the regression-based decomposition method. Noticeable inequalities were observed. Concentration index for utilization of at least one antenatal care visit was 0.09, four or more antenatal visits was 0.17, care from skilled birth attendant was 0.16, delivery care in health care facilities was 0.17, and postnatal care within 2 days of delivery was 0.19. Exposure to mass media, educational status of women and their spouses, wealth status, employment, birth order, and age of pregnancy were significant determinants of inequalities. There was a gradient in the utilization of services when examined across wealth status. Those with unfavorable social determinants of health reported low levels of utilization. Alongside providing tailored health care services to urban poor women, efforts should be made to reduce inequalities in social determinants of health.