Reproductive health beliefs and their consequences: A case study on rural Indigenous women in Bangladesh

This study investigated reproductive health beliefs among rural indigenous women in Kakon Haat village at Rajshahi district of Bangladesh. An explanation for the tendency of women in these communities to access traditional healers (THs) and spiritual healers (SHs) for reproductive health services was discovered. Data was collected by means of in-depth one-to-one interviews and focus group discussions with 22 participants using a snowball sampling technique. The use of THs and SHs for reproductive health services was attributed to three dominant themes: a strong belief in THs, influence of family members, and traditional belief. The study’s findings suggest that that the key to improving rural indigenous women’s health lies in freeing them from mythical beliefs and misconceptions; generally borne in rural areas of Bangladesh where poverty, education, access to medical facilities, and knowledge are great concerns.