This study examines the differences between mothers from upper and lower socioeconomic
groups of households of Dhaka, Bangladesh in terms of their perception,
experience and practice of maternal health care seeking behaviour for childbirth
and the post-partum period, and explains the factors responsible for these
differences. Using a ‗social constructionist‘ approach, this study applies a research
method based on in depth interviews among the two groups of women who gave
birth in the five years preceding the survey, conducted for this study during JulyDecember
2012. The findings show that mothers from lower socio-economic
households express a sense of fear and distrust at receiving health care services for
childbirth and the post-partum period from public or private modern maternal
health care facilities, even though low cost or free maternity care is available at
some health facilities in close proximity to their residence. Conversely, mothers
from upper socio-economic groups show an overt sense of trust and dependence on
modern maternal health care facilities, particularly the private clinics. The findings
further suggest that socio-economic status of the mothers and their households, i.e.,
income, neighbourhood, social network, migration status (particularly for the
mothers of lower socio-economic group of households), employment and
empowerment status of the mothers are associated with the health care seeking
behaviour of the mothers of both the groups. Each group holds a particular and
often paradoxical pattern of perception, experience and cultural attributes that
shape their health care seeking behaviour for their childbirth.