Women Autonomy on Prenatal Care among Bangladeshi Pregnant Women: a Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Women from South Asian countries have challenges related to different cultural issues. In South Asia, women have a considerably lower social status and autonomy than men which is associated with lower access of pregnancy care. It is crucial for decision-making to deciding treatment options. The literature review revealed that there is very limited study related to women autonomy on prenatal care in Bangladesh. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the sociocultural influences underlying women’s autonomy among pregnant women in urban areas of Bangladesh. Methods: A descriptive qualitative research was conducted with 20 pregnant women in three purposively sampled hospitals in Bangladesh using individual in-depth interviews with semi-structured interview questions during the period between August 2016 and April 2017. The content analysis framework was used for analysis and to present qualitative data. Findings: The major categories emerged from data analysis were: cultural restriction on women’s decision making, unfavorable attitude toward prenatal care of the authorized persons in family, cultural restriction on women’s travelling. Conclusion and policy implications: Based on the findings, it is recommended that promoting prenatal care adequacy among pregnant women in Bangladesh, policymakers should collaborate with husband/partners to improve the decision-making of women and empower them to seek prenatal care services when desired