Gender and utilization of health care

Abstract

Sex/gender plays an important role when it comes to health and illness or health care utilization. It is well known that women and men differ in regard to their wellbeing, their morbidity and also in their longevity. In most countries of the world, the life expectancy of women exceeds the life expectancy of men. These differences depend on a country’s context and are smallest in low-income countries with 1–2 years, and highest in so-called transitioning countries with 8–10 years. In Europe, the gender differences in life expectancies range from 4–7 years; in Germany, women currently reach an average of 82.5 years and men 77.5 years (gender difference = 5 years) (reference period 2008/2010; Statistisches Bundesamt 2012).