Gender-based inequities in health in India

Abstract

The research synthesised in the present chapter shows that public health research in India has yet to integrate gender as central to the analysis of health inequities. Studies fall into two categories: those that have examined sex as one of the many risk factors for the health outcome being studied; and women-only studies of reproductive health that refer to the gendered nature of the risk factors. Studies show that there was greater mortality and morbidity among girl children as compared to boys, and that women experienced higher prevalence of morbidity and had generally lower utilisation of health care as compared to men. However, for the most part, not all girls or women were disadvantaged, but only those who simultaneously experienced other disadvantages such as lower caste or socio-economic position. Further, gender norms governing women's role in household decision-making, their freedom of movement and freedom to earn and spend money were significant factors affecting the health of women and their children, and especially their utilisation ofmaternal and child health care services. Very few studies examined the processes through which health inequities have been created and sustained. Further, studies mainly concentrated on proximate and intermediary factors with limited focus on upstream, macro-factors. Overall, the evidence merely confirms what we already know. Crucial areas of study remain unexplored and innovative methodological approaches are rarely adopted that can help generate the evidence necessary for identifying policy entry points or social action.