Urgent Need To Bridge Gender Disparity In Health For Women

The patriarchal system of India often places women in a subordinate position to men, thus paving the way for gender disparity in almost all fields even today. India ranks 140^th out of 156 countries in terms of gender disparity in healthcare, according to the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2021. The gender disparity in health care is much more alarming than the gender gap in equal pay and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Most of the health issues that men face are caused by external factors such as an accident or the consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, etc. However, women experience health issues simply because of their biological processes, starting from the time they attain reproductive age. Women are more likely to suffer from various health problems, like menstruation-related issues (PCOD/PCOS), anaemia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pregnancy, infertility, etc.

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Most women, regardless of how healthy they are, seek medical care for menstrual, reproductive, and sexual issues. So, in a way, access to health care at various points in life becomes mandatory for women due to biological factors. When so many internal factors are leading to various health problems in women, why isn’t health care being prioritised? Why aren’t we recognising that women's health care is their basic necessity?

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While it is alarming that India ranks 140th in gender disparity in healthcare, it is not completely surprising because Indian women have been taught to suffer silently. Women who endure excruciating pain but still don’t complain and manage to do all that society expects from them are glorified. Studies say that period cramps can be as painful as experiencing a heart attack. While a human body can bear only up to 45 del (unit) of pain, women experience 57 del (unit) of pain while giving birth—this is equal to 20 bones getting fractured at the same time. Yet all this is glorified instead of being empathised with!

The situation is worse for rural women compared to their urban counterparts. Numerous women suffer from so many health issues but are either unaware that they need treatment or suffer silently for years until it consumes them. For instance, if a girl in a rural area is experiencing symptoms of ">PCOD, she will either be berated or given some ineffective home remedies. The rate of female enrolment in higher education has increased to 49% in India, but this also means that over half of the female population does not have access to higher education. This also means that a lot of women are unaware of the various health issues that can potentially hit them.

Most often, women just forgo treatment even if they are educated and aware because they are taught to prioritise the needs of their families over their own. During the pandemic, there was numerous social media content about how the workload multiplied for women because family members were chilling at home and making demands every day.

According to 2021 World Bank data, only about 20% of Indian women are in the workforce. So, the majority of women lack access to healthcare services offered by the workplace because they don’t participate in paid labour. Hence, they also lack the financial resources to access health care because they are dependent on others.

Society needs to understand that women are physiologically different from men, which makes them vulnerable to various health issues. So, it is mandatory that women’s health care be prioritised. When are we going to realise that women’s health is vital not just for the well-being of the family but also for economic reasons? As the quote goes, prevention is always better than cure. From taking pap tests every three years from the age of 21 to getting a mammogram every two years after the age of 40, how many women are aware of these, let alone get these tests done?

Programmes should be initiated at schools and colleges throughout the nation to educate girls on the health problems that women are potentially vulnerable to. Women, especially those in the lower economic strata, need to be informed through awareness camps that it's better to spend about Rs. 2,000 for a breast screening and Rs. 500 for a pap test than spend millions after being diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer. Women play a pivotal role in running the family, even if left unacknowledged. So, isn't it imperative to take care of the women in our family to avoid physical, emotional, and economic jeopardy?

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Suggested Reading: Women Progressing Across Fields: It’s Time To Make Their Healthcare A Priority

Views expressed by author are their own