Understanding health insurance coverage and its socio-demographic associations among women in Bangladesh: Evidence from the 2022 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey
Health insurance is vital for healthcare financing and aligns with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal agenda. Women of reproductive age face unique barriers to affordable care due to higher health risks and caregiving responsibilities. This study aims to estimate the proportion of women with health insurance coverage (HIC) and to identify factors associated with such coverage. Data were drawn from the latest round of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2022, comprising a total sample of 19,987 women. Unadjusted odds ratios (UORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. The median age of the women was 32.0 years (interquartile range: 25.0 – 39.0). Only 0.3% of respondents reported having HIC. The odds of having HIC were significantly higher among the women in the study who had an account with a bank or other financial institution (UOR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.36 – 3.79), those with post-secondary education (either themselves or their husbands), those in the richest wealth quintile (UOR: 3.32; 95% CI: 1.45 – 7.60), and those with adequate media exposure (UOR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.41 – 5.47). The study highlights the need for promoting higher education for both sexes, addressing wealth-based disparities, and leveraging mass media to increase the uptake of HIC.
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