Socioeconomic inequality in maternal healthcare: An analysis of regional variation in Bangladesh

Socioeconomic inequality in the utilisation of maternal healthcare services is well-documented in Bangladesh. However, the spatial dimension of this inequality is largely unexplored in the literature. This study examined the regional variation of wealth-related inequality in the utilisation of maternal healthcare services using data from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2014. The highest extent of pro-wealthy inequality was found in Chittagong and Sylhet for ANC services compared to Khulna and Rangpur where inequality was the lowest. Pro-wealthy inequality was the lowest in Rangpur while Dhaka and Barisal tended to have the greatest degree of inequality for delivery care services. Policy efforts aiming to tackle socioeconomic inequality in maternal healthcare should consider this spatial dimension of inequality in Bangladesh.