Effect of Women’s View Toward Their Rights on Receiving Better Antenatal Care in Bangladesh

Abstract

AbstractBackground:A woman or a prospective mother’s view of her husband beating her tells a lot about a country’s view, and a woman’s preferred age of marrying can also exhibit her attitude toward her rights and goals. In a country, many girls may forcefully be married off at an early age where there might be no hand in it of the girls. But the thought they carry throughout their lifetime can be resembled in their children’s lives too and can proclaim plenty of the country’s problems, especially receiving improved antenatal care (ANC). So the thought they have in mind about their rights are often more important than what actually their activities tell. However, limited research has focused on understanding women's perspectives on their rights and their relation with ANC quality in Bangladesh. The findings of this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of women's perspectives on their rights and the barriers they face in accessing quality ANC.Objective:This study aims to investigate the view of Bangladeshi women toward their own rights and the impact on their access to improved ANC.Method:To address this gap, a binary logistic regression model was employed by analyzing in IBM SPSS Statistics 25 using BDHS 2017-18 data. The study recruited a diverse sample of women from various social backgrounds, beliefs, and geographical locations in Bangladesh.Result:It was spotted that a small percentage (6.6%) of women in Bangladesh were under proper ANC coverage. The women who didn’t justify domestic violence were 1.231 times more likely to be under ANC coverage in Bangladesh than those who justify domestic violence. Moreover, women who were exposed to news media more often and women with a higher level of education were more likely to be under ANC coverage than those who were not. Unfortunately, almost one-fifth of all Bangladeshi women (19.6%) justify being beaten by their husbands. The preferred marriage age by these women didn’t come out significant in the adjusted probit model but came out significant in the adjusted model where women preferring a higher age for marriage were more likely to be under ANC coverage.Conclusion:Women’s entitlements enable them to actively engage in their own healthcare programs, leading to improved health outcomes for both mother and child. Through targeted awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and policy advocacy, Bangladesh can create an environment where women are aware of their rights and have access to quality ANC services. By ensuring their rights are respected, a society that values reproductive health and the well-being of women and children can strive.