Socioeconomic and Geographic Barriers to Healthcare Access for Older Adults in Rural Bangladesh
Abstract
The ageing demographic has emerged as a major public health challenge around the world as well as in Bangladesh, particularly in rural areas where there is poor access to healthcare services. Older adults experience numerous socioeconomic and geographic barriers to sufficient healthcare services. Hence, this study was conducted with the aim to explore the socioeconomically and geographical barriers affecting health care seeking behavior of elderly population in rural Bangladesh. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was used; data was collected from 400 respondents above the age of 60 years through a purposive-convenience sampling method by means of structured face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, one sample t-test and posterior distribution analysis were the methods of choice to process the aggregated data utilizing SPSS software. The results showed transport difficulties, distant health care facilities, expensive and time-consuming travel were the main barriers to accessing healthcare services. Respondents also only had access to nearby health facilities, accessible healthcare providers, older person-friendly services and core medicines in moderate levels. The study concludes that rural health infrastructure, transportation system and age-friendly healthcare organizations need to be improved so that older people in rural Bangladesh can access basic healthcare services, enhance healthcare access and ultimately better health outcomes.
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