Antenatal and Postnatal Health Care Seeking Behavior of Indigenous Women: A Study of the Patro Community in Sylhet

Abstract

The condition of maternal health of the indigenous people is worse poorer than non-indigenous people across the world, which is also true in the Bangladesh context as well as at local level. However, little research has been conducted among indigenous people in Bangladesh. Regarding maternal health the present study was conducted among the Patro indigenous people of Bangladesh to understand their maternal health care access and the factors associated with it. It was carried out in six villages of Sylhet district where most of the Patro people reside. The research, employed a mixed method approach that combined both qualitative and quantitative methods. A total of 108 married women who had at least one child less than three years of age or women who had at least one delivery experience were interviewed by using purposive and snowball sampling system. This data was then presented using uni-variate, bi-variate and multivariate analysis.In addition to this a comparative analysis of utilization ANC, PNC and delivery care at national, regional level and Patro community were also assessed. The study revealed that, the socio economic condition of the Patro community is quite poor and the access to maternal health care services is likewise very inadequate. Both micro and macro level factors are responsible for their low access to health care services. The educational attainment of Patro women and their husband is lower than the regional and national level as well. Unlike national level most of the Patro man are day laborers. Patro community is economically very poor. They live in inaccessible remote and isolated area surrounded by hills and tea gardens. There were no maternal health service centers near where they live except for BPI center. Thus, the government should take collaborative initiation with GO and NGOs to establish maternal health centers to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity among Patro women.