title: Utilization of maternal health care services among indigenous women in Bangladesh: A study on the Mru tribe.
abstract: Despite startling developments in maternal health care services, use of these services has been disproportionately distributed among different minority groups in Bangladesh. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with the use of these services among the Mru indigenous women in Bangladesh. A total of 374 currently married Mru women were interviewed using convenience sampling from three administrative sub-districts of the Bandarban district from June to August of 2009. Associations were assessed using Chi-square tests, and a binary logistic regression model was employed to explore factors associated with the use of maternal health care services. Among the women surveyed, 30% had ever visited maternal health care services in the Mru community, a very low proportion compared with mainstream society. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that place of residence, religion, school attendance, place of service provided, distance to the service center, and exposure to mass media were factors significantly associated with the use of maternal health care services among Mru women. Considering indigenous socio-cultural beliefs and practices, comprehensive community-based outreach health programs are recommended in the community with a special emphasis on awareness through maternal health education and training packages for the Mru adolescents.
authors.affiliation: a Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine , Monash University , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.|b Department of Population Sciences , University of Dhaka , Dhaka , Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Rakibul M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Islam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D001459:Bangladesh; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bangladesh; health care services; logistic regression; the Mru; utilization