Comparison of Health Awareness and Service Utilization between ENRICH and Non-ENRICH Unions in Netrokona, Bangladesh

This study evaluated the impact of the ENRICH programme on health awareness, service utilization, and disease vulnerability in rural Bangladesh, specifically addressing SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, researchers compared a programme area (Durgapur Union) with a control area (Chandigarh Union). Data were collected via structured household surveys using KoboToolbox and analysed through multi-stage sampling and robust statistical methods, including Chi-square tests, t-tests, multinomial logistic regression, and Aitchison compositional transformations. The findings revealed substantial disparities in health outcomes between the two regions (p<0.001). In the programme area, uptake of ANC (Antenatal Care) and PNC (Postnatal Care) was 76.10% and 79.51%, respectively, compared to 4.49% and 4.74% in the control group. Similarly, child vaccination coverage (99.21% vs. 84.86%) and growth monitoring (99.61% vs. 22.02%) were significantly higher in Durgapur. The intervention also improved WASH behaviours, with superior rates of safe water use (94.88%) and sanitary pad utilization among females (83.41%). Consequently, 93.17% of households in the programme area reported a decline in disease prevalence over the last three years, compared to 80.55% in the control area. The study concludes that the ENRICH programme effectively strengthens maternal and child health while fostering preventive care habits. It serves as a scalable, high-impact model for accelerating progress toward global sustainability goals in underserved rural communities.