Gender disparities and barriers to access and use of essential health services in Ethiopia: Designing primary health care through gender lens.

This exploratory qualitative study investigated gender-related barriers to accessing maternal and child health (MCH) services in Ethiopia’s primary health care system, despite national efforts to improve health service delivery through the “Optimizing Ethiopian Health Extension Program” strategy. Conducted across nine districts with 221 participants, the study revealed that socio-cultural norms, gender power imbalances, and institutional gaps hinder women’s access to MCH services. Women’s heavy household workloads, limited decision-making power, and low male awareness of MCH needs further restrict service utilization. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions in agrarian and pastoral communities, including gender-sensitive policy implementation and community engagement, to improve equitable access and utilization of MCH services.

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