Bangladesh Health Facility Survey 2017 [SPA28]

The survey was conducted in partnership with icddr,b and Associates for Community and Population Research (ACPR), a private research agency. The 2017 BHFS is part of the worldwide DHS Program, which assists countries in collecting data to monitor and evaluate population, health, and nutrition programs. The survey was funded by the government of Bangladesh and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The health status in Bangladesh is characterized by a high burden of infectious diseases, including diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria. The country has made significant progress in reducing child mortality and improving maternal health outcomes. However, there are still challenges in providing access to quality health services, particularly in rural areas. The health service delivery system in Bangladesh is managed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP). The system includes a network of health facilities, including primary health care centers, community clinics, and hospitals. The 2017 BHFS aimed to assess the availability and quality of health services in Bangladesh. The survey collected data from a sample of 1,000 health facilities and 2,000 health service providers. The data collection methods included a questionnaire adaptation, pre-test, main training, data collection, data management, and report writing. The survey implementation involved a sampling methodology, sampling frame, sample size and allocation, and sample of health facilities and outcomes. The survey found that the availability of services in health facilities varied across different types of facilities. The overall availability of specific client services was 71%, while the availability of basic client services was 63%. The general service preparedness was 55%. The survey also found that the availability of human resources for health was a major challenge, with 45% of health facilities reporting a shortage of staff. The management of medical waste in health care facilities was also a concern, with 30% of facilities reporting inadequate waste disposal practices. Child health services were a key focus of the survey. The availability of child health services varied across different types of facilities. The provision of outpatient curative care, child growth monitoring, child vaccination, and nutrition services was available in 80% of health facilities. Vitamin A supplementation and deworming were available in 75% of facilities. The availability of guidelines, basic equipment, and trained staff for child curative care was a major challenge, with 40% of facilities reporting inadequate resources. The availability of medicines and commodities for sick child care was also a concern, with 30% of facilities reporting stockouts. The readiness of health facilities to provide child curative care was a major challenge. The survey found that 60% of health facilities were not ready to provide child curative care, citing inadequate resources and staff shortages. The basic management and administrative systems, including personal supervision and training, were also a concern, with 40% of facilities reporting inadequate systems.