Maternal Health Care Utilizations Among Rural Women In Northern Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Analysis

Abstract

Background: Rural-urban disparities in maternal healthcare persist globally, with rural women disproportionately affected by geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, and socioeconomic constraints. This study assessed maternal healthcare utilisation patterns among rural women and identified associated influencing factors. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among 200 rural women aged ≥18 years. Data were collected via structured questionnaires covering antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC), delivery practices, service awareness, encountered barriers, and postpartum mental health symptoms. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify predictors of maternal healthcare utilisation. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: Sixty-five percent of participants reported adequate ANC (≥ four visits), 80% had institutional deliveries, and 60% accessed adequate PNC (≥ two visits). Education emerged as the strongest predictor, with women who completed secondary and higher education exhibiting higher odds of ANC (AOR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.3–7.7) and PNC utilisation (AOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.7–5.4). The most prominent barrier was facility distance, which reduced ANC uptake by 70% (AOR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2–0.6). Twenty percent of women reported postpartum mental health symptoms, yet only 25% of those affected sought professional support. Conclusion: Marked disparities persist in maternal healthcare access among rural women, with education and socioeconomic status as primary determinants. Geographic isolation, transport disadvantage, and limited mental health service availability constitute major gaps requiring tailored, community-responsive interventions to improve maternal health outcomes.