Elderly Women in Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

In Bangladesh, one of the world’s poorest countries, a significant proportion of its most deprived citizens are elderly women living in rural areas, where healthcare access remains difficult. This article argues that as citizens, such elderly women, too, should have a constitutional right to healthcare access. Meeting this constitutional and human rights challenge is a joint obligation for the government and healthcare professionals. Yet, socio-economic discrimination and several cultural factors at individual, societal and institutional levels are known to limit access to healthcare services for elderly rural women in Bangladesh, who represent a highly vulnerable population group in Bangladesh regarding healthcare and healthcare access. This article first examines demographic ageing trends and then highlights key issues concerning the necessity of securing better healthcare for rural elderly women (REW) in Bangladesh.