Microfinance, health seeking behaviour and health service of rural households: evidence from a cross-sectional study in Bangladesh

This paper attempts to examine whether participation in microfinance program improves health seeking behaviour and health knowledge of the participants. The study is based on the primary data of 439 households across 20 villages of four different districts in Bangladesh. The data were collected on a field survey. Our results suggest that the overall impact of microfinance operations on the health services and health seeking behaviour of the participants is mostly positive. Microfinance participants’ health related issues as indicated by antenatal care, maternal care, family planning, diarrhoea remedial, immunization provided, malaria/TB treatment, and medicines accessibility improved significantly after joining the microfinance. Further research should aim to figure out whether there is any substantial difference in the health seeking behaviour of the members (treatment) and non-members (control) of microfinance institutions (MFIs)