Spatial dimension of health care utilization in west bengal

Background: Since centuries, health has been a concern with mankind, living in different countries of the World. Consequently, the health care utilization is one of the most important aspect of health sector to deal with development of health in any administrative region. The objectives of the present study is to investigate health care utilization and to find out associated factors in the state of West Bengal. The study is based on secondary source of data (National Family and Health Survey, NFHS-4, 2015-16). Method: The Karl Pearson Correlation Coefficient technique has been applied to reveal factors associated with health care utilization. Besides, a Dimension Index is constructed to depict overall situation in health care utilization. A numbers of tables, figures, maps have helped for easy depiction and illustration of the health care utilization and education across districts of West Bengal. Results: It is found in the study that the level of health care utilization and education is very low in Uttar Dinajpur and Malda districts of West Bengal while good performing districts are Darjiling, Nadia, Bankura, Birbhum, Kolkata, Hugli and Paschim Medinipur. The study finds positive association between literacy and health care utilization.