Social and spatial inclusiveness of reproductive health services in Tanzania: a perspective on “health corridors” (WITHDRAWN)

Dinasas Abdella, Utrecht University

Despite massive policy interventions in Tanzania, reproductive health services are poorly accessed and utilized. This paper examines the different patterns of access and utilization of reproductive health services and explores the social and spatial determinants behind it. Data reveals despite increasing coverage of health facility, free antennal and family planning services, there remains low utilisation of it. Mainly due to socio-economic and cultural barriers associated with gender relations; cultural misconception; presence of ‘alternativity’; and a general trend to seek traditional health care over medical care. Paper concludes that addressing health services delivery without comparable attention given to the embedded socio-cultural aspects that are context-specific, represent a failure not only in policy but also alerts the spatial-bias in conceptual lens commonly used. Lastly, taking a perspective on health corridors is necessary to offer policies and programs for improving decentralized health services that are more socially and spatially inclusive.