Link between gender inequality and women's satisfaction with maternal healthcare services: a cross-sectional study in Khulna, Bangladesh

作者：Halim SFB, Akter O, Islam MK · 发表于：BMJ open · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1136/bmjopen-2024-084404 · 被引用次数：51 · 研究领域：HEALTH ECONOMICS、Pregnant Women、SOCIAL MEDICINE、Sexual and Gender Minorities

BACKGROUND: Gender inequality within households remains a significant barrier to accessing maternal healthcare services in many low-resource settings, including Bangladesh. Understanding the relationship between the gender inequality faced by women in households and their perceived satisfaction with maternal healthcare services is important. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify the factors influencing gender inequality and investigate the association between gender inequality faced by women within households and their perceived satisfaction with maternal healthcare services. DESIGN: Conducted between October and November 2022, employing a cross-sectional design. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: 150 women who are at their prenatal or postnatal stages are systematically sampled from Khalishpur municipality and Dighalia subdistrict from Khulna, Bangladesh. OUTCOME MEASURES: Gender inequality within the households is assessed using a validated five-point Likert scale of five items. Participants with an average score below or equal to the median value are considered to be facing gender inequality within households. Satisfaction with maternal healthcare services is measured across five variables using a similar scale. Based on the responses, a standardised score is generated to measure the satisfaction level with maternal healthcare services. RESULTS: We find that women are around seven times more likely to experience gender inequality in their households if their husbands are eng...