Open AccessConceptualizing "access" of maternal health services in lower-middle-income countries
Author(s) -
Bismah Jameel,
Aeda Bhagaloo,
Khadija Rashid,
Umair Majid
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
health science inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2562-7791
DOI - 10.29173/hsi286
Subject(s) - compendium , low and middle income countries , socioeconomic status , childbirth , disadvantaged , work (physics) , cultural issues , developing country , economic growth , political science , business , medicine , environmental health , pregnancy , cultural diversity , population , geography , economics , mechanical engineering , archaeology , biology , engineering , genetics , law
A considerable number of women die each year worldwide due to preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth. The high mortality of women who die from pregnancy-related issues can be attributed to inadequate access of high-quality maternal health services. However, access is a nebulous concept with a compendium of conceptualizations and definitions. In this paper, we discuss the various conceptualizations of access to maternal health services in lower middle-income countries, and compare how issues related to access differ between high- and lower middle-income countries. This discussion informs two priorities that we suggest for researchers conducting health system improvement work in lower middle-income countries: 1) develop a robust understanding of the barriers to access that continue to persist due to cultural, socioeconomic, and political factors, and 2) formulate frameworks and theories specific to lower middle-income countries to guide research.