Communication Gaps Affecting Maternal Health Outcomes in Bangladeshi Public Hospitals

Abstract

Effective communication is central to the delivery of high-quality maternal healthcare, yet it remains an understudied component in public health systems in low- and middle-income countries. This qualitative study examines the communication challenges between healthcare providers and pregnant women in public hospitals in Bangladesh, with a focus on how these barriers impact maternal health outcomes. Drawing on thirty in-depth interviews with patients and providers, and observational data from four rural and peri-urban hospitals, the study identifies six key barriers: language mismatch, time constraints, lack of empathy, cultural insensitivity, overuse of medical jargon, and gender discomfort. These factors were found to hinder mutual understanding, reduce patient trust, and discourage full disclosure of health concerns. Framed by Habermas’s theory of communicative action and cultural competence theory, the findings illustrate how structural limitations and cultural disconnects intersect to produce fragmented and inequitable care experiences. The study highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms that integrate communication training, gender-sensitive consultation environments, and culturally inclusive practices within maternal health services. By emphasizing communication as a foundational element of care, this research contributes to the growing discourse on improving maternal health outcomes in Bangladesh.