Barriers to Health Care Access among Rural Women: A Qualitative Study in a Village of Bangladesh

Abstract

Rural women's health inequalities have an extensive discussion on both a global and regional scale. Access to health care is a universal challenge, but the task is even harder for rural people, particularly women. This paper attempts to assess critical barriers to rural women’s health. In this regard, a qualitative approach has been followed using a case study method. The respondents were selected from Kosha Raniganj village of Pirganj Upazila under the district of Thakurgaon in the division of Rangpur, Bangladesh, and data were collected in two consecutive months, i.e., May and June 2024. 20 rural women were interviewed through face-to-face communication, with the help of an unstructured interview schedule, to obtain the necessary data. The research findings showed that the health care coverage for rural women remains low because of multifaceted and interwoven barriers. These are: Economic Barriers, Geographic barriers, Socio-cultural barriers, Shortages of workforce and Healthcare Infrastructure, Educational and Awareness Gaps. Of these barriers, economic challenges were considered to have the greatest impounding effect on the health care access of women in rural areas. The findings of this work are useful in understanding how to reduce health disparities and increase the health care services for rural females.