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Research Article: Gender and caste inequalities in primary healthcare usage by under-5 children in rural Nepal: an iterative qualitative study into provider perspectives and the potential role of implicit bias

Date Published: 2023-06-26

Abstract:
Objective This study explored provider perspectives on: (1) why inequalities in health service usage persist; and (2) their knowledge and understanding of the role of patient experience and implicit bias (also referred to as unconscious bias). Design A three stage, iterative qualitative study was conducted involving two rounds of in-depth interviews and a training session with healthcare staff. Interview transcripts were analysed using a reflexive thematic approach in relation to the study’s aims. Setting Participants were recruited from rural hill districts (Mugu, Humla, Bajura, Gorkha and Sindhupalchok) of Nepal. Participants Clinical staff from 22 rural health posts. Results Healthcare providers had high levels of understanding of the cultural, educational and socioeconomic factors behind inequalities in healthcare usage in their communities. However, there was less knowledge and understanding of the role of patient experience—and no recognition at all of the concept of implicit bias. Conclusion It is highly likely that implicit bias affects provider behaviours in Nepal, just as it does in other countries. However, there is currently not a culture of thinking about the patient experience and how that might impact on future usage of health services. Implicit bias training for health students and workers would help create greater awareness of unintended discriminatory behaviours. This in turn may play a part in improving patient experience and future healthcare usage, particularly among disadvantaged groups.

Introduction:
The world has made substantial progress in reducing childhood mortality and child survival over the past three decades. Globally, the under-5 mortality rate has decreased by 60%, from 93 deaths per 1000 live births in 1990 to 37 in 2020. 1 Nevertheless, around 5?million children still die each year, largely from causes that are preventable. 1 The health of young children is especially susceptible to socioeconomic inequalities, which have led to significant differences in childhood morbidity and mortality between…

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