Gender and Health Care Utilisation in Pakistan

Abstract

This study is undertaken to test whether or not there exists gender bias in health care utilisation of sick children in Pakistan. Overall, the results are encouraging, as medical consultation has been sought for by a very high proportion (79 percent) of sick children. Moreover, there do not appear to be significant differences by gender in health care utilisation, be it curative or preventive. This is so in spite of the fact that many studies on various gender-related issues in Pakistan have generally shown significant gender bias in favour of male children. Thus one may conclude that parental altruism prevails at least in the provision of health care to sick children. However, the extent and magnitude of effect varies by geographical, socio-economic, and demographic characteristics of the mother. In view of these findings, efforts should be made to minimise gender differentials among various categories of people so that children living in any circumstances may have equal opportunity of health care utilisation. This will be possible when health care facilities are easily accessible to all. The Lady Health Workers Programme of the Government of Pakistan is a major positive step in this regard. Under this programme, health care facilities are provided at people’s door-step. The expansion of this programme will be extremely beneficial in helping parents to provide health care facilities to sick children, both male and female.

A study on health care seeking pattern of under five children in the rural field practice area of a medical college in Mandya District, Karnataka, India

“…In the other studies done by Aparna Pandey et al and Jeffrey R Wills et al, more number of female children had fallen ill than male children which was similar to present study findings. 8,9 The findings of the study done by Anima Sen and Salma Seth was in contrast to the findings of present study where more male children had fallen ill and study done by Ganatra B and Hirve S, Pokhreal S et al and Ali SM in there study also didn't find much difference between male and female getting ill. [10][11][12][13] Nearly 90 % of the children in both the gender has seek treatment for the disease in present study from a qualified medical professional, similar kind of results was also seen in study done by Suresh Sharma and B Ganatra and S Hirve. 11,14 The association between seeking treatment and gender was found to not significant in all the studies.…”

Causes and Consequences of Gender Discrimination against Women in Quetta City

“…In his study Ali [20] noted that women faced discrimination in Pakistan in all walks of life including healthcare provision. Healthcare is another field where variations in response occur with educated respondents in favor of advanced healthcare for the women while the illiterate and poor respondents were of the opinion that women did not deserve good healthcare.…”

“…Healthcare is another field where women face discrimination and has been researched upon extensively the world over. In his study Ali [20] noted that women faced discrimination in Pakistan in all walks of life including healthcare provision. This discrimination was prevalent in rural areas of Pakistan especially Baluchistan where mostly male children were given medical treatment than female children [20].…”

“…In his study Ali [20] noted that women faced discrimination in Pakistan in all walks of life including healthcare provision. This discrimination was prevalent in rural areas of Pakistan especially Baluchistan where mostly male children were given medical treatment than female children [20]. Ali [20] also noted that in patriarchal societies, decisions are usually carried out by men hence decision whether the child receives medical attention or not is also determined by the elders usually the male members.…”

“…This discrimination was prevalent in rural areas of Pakistan especially Baluchistan where mostly male children were given medical treatment than female children [20]. Ali [20] also noted that in patriarchal societies, decisions are usually carried out by men hence decision whether the child receives medical attention or not is also determined by the elders usually the male members. Ali et al [21] made gender discrimination in Karachi an urban city the subject of their study and found that religious misconceptions related to women also contributed towards discrimination.…”