Socio-economic and Demographic

determinants of institutional delivery

in Bangladesh

Introduction :

The use of institutional delivery services has come into being as an essential
factor in limiting rates of maternal and newborn death, which is of paramount
importance for global development. Analyzing the demographic and
socioeconomic factors that influence the utilization of institutional delivery
services is vital in the context of Bangladesh, a developing nation with a high
rate of maternal and newborn mortality. By securing access to adequate medical
care, qualified attendants, and necessary interventions, institutional delivery,
which is defined as giving birth in a healthcare facility staffed by skilled health
professionals, has the potential to improve both mother and infant outcomes.
That said, regardless of developments in healthcare infrastructure and the
convenience of services, Bangladesh's institutional delivery services are still
used poorly throughout different socioeconomic and demographic groups. A
comprehensive review of the socioeconomic and demographic factors that
impact the decision to opt for institutional delivery is the objective of this study,
which also seeks to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the barriers
and facilitators to its use.

Literature Reviews :

A number of studies have looked into the variables that contribute to maternal
healthcare-seeking behavior and the motives of institutional delivery in low-
and middle-income countries. In the context of Bangladesh, a number of
significant factors have been mentioned in the literature reviews.

• Socio-economic Factors: Studies has demonstrated how socio-economic

status determines how institutional delivery services are handled. It might
 be challenging for women from lower-income households to afford all the
expenses associated with institutional delivery, such as transportation,
user fees, and other associated expenses.
• Educational Attainment: Education: It has been constantly pointed out
that education is an essential variable in considering institutional delivery.
Women with higher levels of education are more likely to seek medical
assistance during childbirth and have an improved awareness of the
positive aspects of institutional delivery.
• Urban-Rural Disparities: Having accessibility to healthcare services
can be influenced by geography, specifically the urban-rural variation.
Rural women might encounter difficulties accessing healthcare facilities,
which possibly impacts how frequently they give birth in healthcare
institutions.
• Cultural and Social Norms: Traditional customs and heritage, norms of
society, and cultural beliefs have an impact on how women decide on
healthcare professionals. Based on cultural preferences or an attachment
to conventional birth attendants, certain communities may opt for home
births.
• Healthcare Infrastructure: The implementation of institutional delivery
services is determined by both the quality and accessibility of health care
institutions as well as the presence of skilled healthcare staff. Women
may be hindered from experiencing institutional care partly because of
poor infrastructure and the scarcity of skilled staff.
• Parity and pregnancy-related factors: A woman's decision to give birth
in a hospital might be dependent on her earlier pregnancies' number and
her perception of the pregnancy risk. Pregnancies at high risk might lead
women to decide on institutional delivery.
• Access to Information: Awareness and comprehension of the perks of
institutional delivery can be determined by having access to health
information through the media, community outreach programs, and social
interaction.

This research implies making a contribution to evidence-based strategies and

policies that aim to encourage equal access to institutional delivery services in
Bangladesh through studying the association of various socioeconomic and
demographic variables.
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