The Influence of Media on Obstetric Health Behavior in Northern Bangladesh

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VIII, August 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Influence of Media on Obstetric Health Behavior in Northern Bangladesh

Md. Bokul Hossain¹, Dr. Md. Siddiqur Rahman² & Sonya Farhana Sony³

¹Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Varendra University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
²Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
³Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Abstract: Media is a part and parcel of daily life and influences every sphere of life. The present study seeks to understand the influence of media on obstetric health behavior. Survey method has been executed to conduct the study. The research shows that media plays a vital role in obstetric health fields. Besides, there is a significant association between respondent’s media engagement and the performance of obstetric health behaviors like ANC visits, getting assistance of skilled health personnel during delivery or types of birth attendant, intake of iron tablets and vaccination of mother (TT).

Keywords: Obstetric Health, Obstetric Health Behavior, Media.

I. INTRODUCTION

Media has been playing an important role in almost every sphere of the contemporary society. Specially, it accelerates social change. Generally, media is the collective communication outlets or tools that are used to store and deliver information or data. It is either associated with communication media or the specialized mass media communication businesses such as print media and the press, photography, advertising, cinema, broadcasting (radio and television) and publishing (wikipedia). People from all social class are adopting media as an enriched source of information. Such widespread public engagement with media creates a ready platform for its applications in the obstetric health field. Obstetric health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period. In the discussion of obstetric health, we should know about obstetric health behavior. Obstetric health behavior is the sum total of action that is taken by a woman, her family as well as society to maintain, attain, or regain good health and to prevent illness during the period of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum (Hossain and Rahman, 2019). In this study ANC visit (Antenatal Care), the taking of iron tablets, vaccination of mother (TT), types of birth attendant are considered as obstetric health behavior. Obstetric health is related to maternal mortality ratio (MMR). It is now widely considered as crucial indicators of overall health status of a country. According to WHO (2012), near about 287000 women die every year due to obstetric health related complications around the world. In Bangladesh it is estimated that moreover 11,000 women die for the complications during pregnancy and child birth each year (Koblinsky. et. al. 2008).

Read More