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Maternal Health Inequalities In Bangladesh: Insights From Demographic And Health Survey Data

Students & Supervisors

Student Authors
Mirza Tahmid Sarowar
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Engineering, FST
S. M. Anzir Mahmud
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Engineering, FST
Supervisors
Md. Mortuza Ahmmed
Associate Professor, Faculty, FST

Abstract

Maternal health remains a critical public health concern in Bangladesh, where many women still struggle to get equal access to care. Although improvements in nutrition, immunization, and maternal services have been achieved over the years, inequities still exist among different groups and regions of the country. This study aims to assess the long-term trends and inequalities in maternal health in Bangladesh using a secondary data analysis approach. Data were collected from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) spanning from 1994 to 2023, which provided information on the health equity index, disease prevalence rate, nutritional status score, access to health services, and immunization coverage percentage. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to identify inequalities in maternal health. According to BDHS 1994–2023, the health equity index ranged between 0.41 and 0.89, with an average of 0.70, showing a gradual but inconsistent increase in equity. Disease prevalence rates varied widely from 5.5% to 27.5% with an average of 16.4%, indicating ongoing health challenges. Nutritional status showed an overall upward trend, reaching as high as 99.7 with a mean of 80.6. Access to maternal health services increased drastically over time, from slightly over 40% in the early years to over 90% in recent years. Immunization coverage also improved steadily, ranging from 60.1% to 97.1% with an average of 78.0%. Despite these improvements, significant inequalities persist across regions and demographic groups in Bangladesh, highlighting the need for dedicated programs and policies to address disparities and ensure equitable access to maternal health services for all women.

Keywords

maternal health inequalities immunization equity-index demographic

Publication Details

  • Type of Publication:
  • Conference Name: 7th International Conference on Integrated Sciences (ICIS 2025)
  • Date of Conference: 25/10/2025 - 25/10/2025
  • Venue: Eastern University, Ashulia, Dhaka
  • Organizer: Eastern University, Bangladesh
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