DETERMINANTS OF SATISFACTORY PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN RURAL BANGLADESH

Abstract

Quality of public health care services is a necessary step in the process of improving health care services. It plays an important role for preventing the overuse, underuse and misuse of health care services and ensuring patient safety. Thus, the study aims to investigate the determinants of satisfactory public health care services in rural Bangladesh. Data are collected from 150 respondents of six upazilas in Khulna and Bagerhat districts who spend at least one day in the upazila health complex for receiving treatment. Quantitative analysis is performed through factor analysis and ordered logistic regression. This study demonstrates that almost three-fourth of the respondents visit hospitals at least 3-4 times in a year, also exerts that almost 70% of the respondents earn/month on an average between BDT 5,001-10,000, whereas nearly 40% of the respondents are compelled to spend almost about BDT 2,001-4,000 for availing medical facilities. Ordered logistic regression demonstrates that, educational status of the respondents, financial & physical access to care and health personnel conduct have positively associated with the respondent level of satisfaction on health care services rendered by public health complexes. Therefore, it is vital to improve the related facilities to increase the satisfaction level. Thus, authors suggest improving the overall structure of rural health complex, ensure availability of essential drugs, increase the financial support to government or initiate community-based health insurance to reduce the out of pocket health expenditure to increase the patient satisfaction level.