Inequality of Healthcare Access among Children in Bangladesh: An Opportunity Based Approach

Harshita THAKARE

Master's thesis

Inequality of Opportunity in Child Health in Bangladesh

Abstract:

In 2018, around 5.3 million children under the age of five died due to preventable causes, with majority of deaths taking place in developing countries. Timely and adequate access to basic healthcares services could have a substantial impact in child's survival. Healthcare access among children is a fundamental basic opportunity which is detrimental for achieving good child health status. The objective of the study is to analyze the coverage, level of inequality and main drivers contributing to the inequality of access to basic healthcare among children in Bangladesh. The study computes Human Opportunity Index (HOI) for a composite indicator of access to healthcare for children comprising birth taking place at health facility, skilled birth attendance, receiving vaccination and postnatal care. Using shapley decomposition method, the study further analyzes the marginal contributions of circumstances of a child towards the inequality. Findings from the study indicate that mother's education, wealth index, location and number of the children in the household are strongly associated with access to basic healthcare. Decomposition results further highlights that inequality arising in coverage of basic healthcare services in Bangladesh is largely explained by, first wealth of the household then mother's education and geographic location. The index entails new public policy implications for early on targeted interventions which could help in ensuring that a child receives early on healthcare which are imperative for their future growth.

Abstract:

In 2018, around 5.3 million children under the age of five died due to preventable causes, with majority of deaths taking place in developing countries. Timely and adequate access to basic healthcares services could have a substantial impact in child's survival. Healthcare access among children is a fundamental basic opportunity which is detrimental for achieving good child health status. The objective of the study is to analyze the coverage, level of inequality and main drivers contributing to the inequality of access to basic healthcare among children in Bangladesh. The study computes Human Opportunity Index (HOI) for a composite indicator of access to healthcare for children comprising birth taking place at health facility, skilled birth attendance, receiving vaccination and postnatal care. Using shapley decomposition method, the study further analyzes the marginal contributions of circumstances of a child towards the inequality. Findings from the study indicate that mother's education, wealth index, location and number of the children in the household are strongly associated with access to basic healthcare. Decomposition results further highlights that inequality arising in coverage of basic healthcare services in Bangladesh is largely explained by, first wealth of the household then mother's education and geographic location. The index entails new public policy implications for early on targeted interventions which could help in ensuring that a child receives early on healthcare which are imperative for their future growth.

Keywords

Inequality, healthcare access, circumstances, Human Opportunity Index

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 8. 6. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: prof. Cinzia Di Novi

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Geography / International Development Studies