Effects of Internal Migration on Maternal Healthcare Service Utilization in Bangladesh: An Analysis of Nationally Representative Survey

Fardin Araf, University of Dhaka
Md Rabiul Haque, Department of Population Sciences, University of Dhaka
Gustavo Angeles, National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Mexico and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Despite the significance of internal migration as an important social determinant of health that could potentially affect the utilization of maternal healthcare services, the magnitude of this relationship by different migration streams is yet to be fully explored in Bangladesh. Methods: This study using Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data, 2017-18 examined the effects of different migration streams on maternal healthcare service utilization, particularly four or more antenatal care (=4 ANC) visits and institutional delivery (ID) care services. Results: The analysis identified significant variations in using antenatal and institutional delivery care services between migrants and non-migrants. The rural non-migrants are the most disadvantaged group, particularly when different migration streams are considered. Urban to urban migrants (=4 ANC=1.866, p<0.01; ID=2.247, p<0.001) and urban to rural migrants (= 4 ANC= 1.24, p>0.05; ID=1.689, p<0.05) are more likely to utilize both types of maternal healthcare services than rural non-migrants. However, migrants of all streams are less likely to use any maternal healthcare services when compared to urban non-migrants. Conclusion: Addressing the effects of migration in designing and implementing maternal healthcare service delivery programs may address the needs and challenges migrants face.

Keywords: Migrant Populations and Refugees, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Internal Migration and Urbanization

See extended abstract.