Healthcare Accessibility and Challenges of Women in the Sundarbans Region of North 24 Parganas

Md Alauddin Sk; Partha Sarathi De

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.73607

Healthcare Accessibility and Challenges of Women in the Sundarbans Region of North 24 Parganas

Author(s)	Md Alauddin Sk, Prof. Dr. Partha Sarathi De
Country	India
Abstract	Abstract: The Sundarbans area represents one of the most ecologically sensitive and socially disadvantaged regions in India, where women encounter significant obstacles in obtaining healthcare facilities. This research examines the availability of healthcare services and the various challenges experienced by women in the isolated islands of the Sundarbans, emphasizing on socio-economic vulnerability and patriarchal social framework. The study applied both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data from women representing Hingalganj and Hasnabad blocks through survey and focus group discussions. It sought to examine how poor transportation, long distance to have health care facilities, irregular and insufficient medical staff at centres with frequent shortages of essential medicines severely limit women’s access to timely and quality healthcare. It also examines how socio-economic barriers, including poverty, gender inequality, and limited decision-making power further hinder their ability to seek medical help. From a sociological standpoint, these findings highlight healthcare issues faced by women in the Sundarbans are not solely logistical in nature, but are deeply rooted in structural inequalities, social hierarchies, and power dynamics that influence access to resources. This paper attempts to look at what could be a comprehensive and gender-sensitive strategy to ensure equitable accessibility to healthcare facilities for women that integrates strong rural health infrastructure, women's empowerment, innovative approaches such as telemedicine and mobile healthcare to accomplish remote access. How these interconnected social and structural barriers can be addressed to build a resilient, inclusive, and socially equitable healthcare system in the Sundarbans becomes a central theme.
Keywords	Keywords: Accessibility to Healthcare, Inadequate Structural facilities, Gender Inequality, Social hierarchy, Power dynamics.
Field	Sociology > Health
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-04-05
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.73607

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Healthcare Accessibility and Challenges of Women in the Sundarbans Region of North 24 Parganas

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