F1000Research Open Peer Review Discuss this article (0) Comments RESEARCH ARTICLE Maternal complications in a geographically challenging and hard to reach district of Bangladesh: a qualitative study [version 1; referees: awaiting peer review] Animesh Biswas , Koustuv Dalal , Abu Sayeed Md Abdullah , Mervyn Gifford , MA Halim 2 School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden Centre for Injury Prevention and Research (CIPRB), Dhaka, Bangladesh Abstract Maternal complications contribute to maternal deaths in Background: developing countries. Bangladesh still has a high prevalence of maternal mortality, which is often preventable. There are some geographically challenging and hard to reach rural districts in Bangladesh and it is difficult to get information about maternal complications in these areas. In this study, we examined the community lay knowledge of possible pregnancy complications. We also examined the common practices associated with complications and we discuss the challenges for the community. The study was conducted in Moulvibazar of north east Bangladesh, Methods: a geographically challenged, difficult to reach district. Qualitative methods were used to collect the information. Pregnant women, mothers who had recently delivered, their guardians and traditional birth attendants participated in focus group discussions. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with the family members. Thematic analyses were performed. The study revealed that there is a lack of knowledge of maternal Results: complications. In the majority of cases, the mothers did not receive proper treatment for maternal complications. There are significant challenges that these rural societies need to address: problems of ignorance, traditional myths and family restrictions on seeking better treatment. Moreover, traditional birth attendants and village doctors also have an important role in assuring appropriate, effective and timely treatment. The rural community lacks adequate knowledge on maternal Conclusions: complications. Reduction of the societal barriers including barriers within the family can improve overall practices. Moreover, dissemination of adequate information to the traditional birth attendant and village doctors may improve the overall situation, which would eventually help to reduce maternal deaths. 1,2 1 2 1 2 1 2 Referee Status: AWAITING PEER REVIEW 28 Sep 2016, :2417 (doi: ) First published: 5 10.12688/f1000research.9445.1 28 Sep 2016, :2417 (doi: ) Latest published: 5 10.12688/f1000research.9445.1 v1 Page 1 of 7 F1000Research 2016, 5:2417 Last updated: 28 SEP 2016