Health Services Utilization Barriers for Rural Elderly Women in Bangladesh: Narratives of Clinicians, Pharmacists and Public Health Assistants

This study presents a qualitative exploration of the views held by rural health staff whose role is to provide care to local elderly women. We conducted 11 interviews with clinicians, pharmacists and public health assistants in Sylhet district, Bangladesh. A critical thematic discourse ana lysis, using the critical social constructs of Habermas and Honneth, of the data informed the women’s inadequate healthcare access and associated barriers that were complex and overlapping but had explicit institutional, subjective and material consequences. Five major themes emerged including: un equal distribution of health services; marginalization in patient-staff relationships; living with poverty; social relegation; and mistrust of clinical treatment. Rural areas were viewed with inequitably distributed health services and traditionally a large proportion of elderly women living in pove rty who lacked social support and demonstrated a mistrust towards healthcare system. No recognition of the women and power differences were underpinned by economic factors and cultural societal values. The findings suggest a need for health policy solutions and education of healthcare staff and elde rly women regarding accessing healthcare.
Source: Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research