SHARE Bangladesh - Situation assessment of gender equality health services delivery in selected public health facilities

Situation assessment of gender equality health services delivery in selected public health facilities in Bangladesh

Sadika Akhter, Mohammed Kamruzzaman, Aminur Rahman Shaheen, A.T.M. Iqbal Anwar

Background:

Bangladesh, over last 2-3 decades, could make remarkable progress in health, population and nutrition indicators. However, equitable delivery of health interventions and services, particularly among underserved populations and marginalized groups including women remain a big challenge. This study aimed to explore the knowledge and perception of health care providers working in a sample of public hospitals in Bangladesh about gender responsive health services.

Results:

The study identifies a range of issues to make the facility environment women and gender friendly. The issues identified, belong to three major categories: (i) infrastructural (ii) logistical and (iii) knowledge and attitudes of health care providers. The infrastructural issues include sanitation, privacy for patient, and provision of breastfeeding corner. Respondents recognize that a women or gender friendly hospital services are needed. But they mainly think of improving services in the Gynecology and Obstetrics wards. Thus, ‘gender equality’ and ‘maternity care’ is merged. Respondents rarely consider men engagement in gender issues.

Conclusions

This study strongly recommends training of service providers and program managers on the concept of gender-based equal rights. Hospitals should offer female patients more services and should sensitize men about female health issues.