Maternal Healthcare Services Along Indo-Bangladesh Bordering Districts: Exploring Effects of Social Determinants on Access to Maternal Healthcare Services.
Abstract Background Regardless of government efforts toward ameliorating easy access and utilization of healthcare services, the disparity in Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is significantly higher across states of India. Post-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), equity in healthcare largely remain in the health policy discourse. The policy implementation's effectiveness remained confined to the central geographical location, remotely reaching the peripheral region. The study seeks to assess socio-demographic and household wealth's effect on the access and utilization of healthcare services among women. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 355 women aged 15–49 years in three Indian districts of Assam that share an international border with Bangladesh. Results The study's findings reported that utilization and accessibility are primarily influenced by households' wealth and women's age. Education qualification has no significant effect on healthcare utilization. Younger women from wealthier households are more likely to utilize government healthcare services in India's borderline regions. Conclusion Besides educating women, the availability of healthcare resources and empowering the livelihood resources in the peripheral region should be prioritized. In these fragile areas, efforts to empower women and their families to seek healthcare should be strengthened, which shall enhance well-being.