Access to Healthcare and Health-Seeking Behaviors of People in the Remote Islands of Bangladesh: An Insight from Char Nizam

Abstract

In the 21st century, health has become a key priority in national development goals worldwide. Since gaining independence in 1971, Bangladesh has significantly advanced its health sector, with substantial government investment leading to visible improvements, including in previously neglected rural areas. Still, Bangladesh faces challenges in extending healthcare services to remote islands/char lands. To comply with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, Bangladesh must ensure healthcare service in the remote char lands. This study investigates the difficulties faced by the residents of remote char land in accessing healthcare and the challenges faced by the authorities in delivering adequate services regarding the healthcare issues in Char Nizam, an isolated island, situated in the Char Fasson Upazila of Bhola District. Inhabitants of this remote island face various barriers to accessing existing healthcare facilities, such as geographical isolation, poor infrastructure, transportation challenges, and socio-economic limitations. This research seeks to shed light on the issues surrounding healthcare accessibility and health-seeking behaviors of the Char residents and suggests possible solutions to enhance healthcare services in remote islands like Char Nizam. The research is based on the fieldwork carried out from October 2022 to February 2023, incorporating both primary and secondary data. Theoretically, it ties in with the Health Belief Model (HBM), a perspective that explains and predicts health- related behavior of individuals in general.

Social Science Review, Vol. 41(2), December 2024, pp. 99-118