The gender health gap refers to disparities in healthcare access, outcomes, and experiences between men and women. These gaps arise from biological, social, cultural, and systemic factors, disproportionately affecting worldwide women’s health and well-being. Read here to learn more.
On average, women spend 25 per cent more time than men in poor health, affecting their ability to be present and productive at home, in the workforce, and in the community.
Most of this health gap occurs during a woman’s prime working years, not at the end of life. What can be done to close the gap?
Women’s health is both a human rights issue and an economic imperative. Addressing the gaps in women’s healthcare leads to better societal well-being, workforce participation, and economic growth.
However, systemic disparities in access, research, and policy leave women’s health underprioritized globally.
Gender Health gap
- Healthcare Access and Affordability:
- Women in low-income and marginalized communities face barriers to essential healthcare services, including maternal health, family planning, and disease prevention.
- The lack of affordable healthcare exacerbates these inequalities.
- Gender Bias in Medical Research:
- Historically, clinical trials have predominantly focused on men, leading to gaps in understanding women-specific health issues.
- Conditions like endometriosis and autoimmune diseases remain under-researched and underfunded.
- Maternal Health Crisis:
- Complications during pregnancy and childbirth remain the leading causes of death for women globally.
- Disparities in maternal mortality rates persist, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
- Mental Health:
- Women are disproportionately affected by mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, yet access to treatment is limited.
- Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs):
- Chronic Diseases and Life Expectancy
- Women generally live longer than men but spend more years in poor health due to chronic diseases like osteoporosis, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Gender-specific risk factors for diseases, such as cervical and breast cancers, add to the health burden.
- Workplace Disparities:
- Poor health and lack of support for issues like menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause reduce workforce participation and productivity.
Gender health gap in medical research
For decades, medical research has predominantly used the male body as the “default,” sidelining the unique physiological and hormonal characteristics of women.
This entrenched bias has left women at a disadvantage in healthcare, exacerbating risks and inequalities across a range of health domains.
- Increased Risk of Misdiagnosis
- Women’s symptoms, especially for conditions like heart attacks, differ from men’s but are often dismissed or misdiagnosed.
- For example, women experiencing cardiac events may report nausea and fatigue instead of the “classic” chest pain, leading to delays in treatment.
- Ineffective Treatments
- Dosages for medications are often based on trials conducted on men, leading to adverse effects or suboptimal efficacy in women.
- Conditions like chronic pain and autoimmune disorders are under-researched despite being more prevalent in women.
- Overlooked Health Issues
- Disabilities, obesity, and mental health conditions in women are often trivialized, leaving them undertreated.
- Diseases such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remain poorly understood and underfunded despite affecting millions globally.
Systemic Bias in Data Collection:
- Underrepresentation in Clinical Trials
- Women were excluded from many clinical trials until the 1990s due to concerns over hormonal fluctuations complicating results.
- Even today, women’s participation in research is often skewed towards reproductive health, neglecting broader health issues.
- Lack of Gender-Disaggregated Data
- Health data often fails to distinguish between male and female experiences, perpetuating blind spots in treatment approaches.
- The impact of intersectionality, such as race and socioeconomic status, remains underexplored.
Key Factors Driving the Gender Health Gap
- Cultural and Social Norms
- Patriarchal norms limit women’s decision-making power in health-related matters.
- Traditional caregiving roles often prioritize others’ health over their own.
- Economic Inequalities
- Women are more likely to be in low-paying or informal jobs, limiting their ability to afford healthcare.
- Gender pay gaps also reduce women’s financial independence to seek timely care.
- Health Policy and Governance
- Insufficient focus on gender-sensitive health policies exacerbates the gap.
- Lack of data disaggregated by gender impedes targeted interventions.
Impact on Economies
- Lost Productivity: Women’s health issues lead to absenteeism and reduced participation in the labor market.
- Healthcare Costs: Addressing preventable conditions late increases healthcare expenditures.
- Human Capital: Investments in women’s health improve education and skill development outcomes, driving economic growth.
Strategies to Bridge the Gap
- Policy and Advocacy:
- Develop gender-sensitive healthcare policies.
- Enforce reproductive rights and access to family planning services.
- Equitable Healthcare Systems:
- Increase funding for women-focused health services.
- Expand universal healthcare to ensure affordability and access.
- Research and Innovation:
- Prioritize women-specific health issues in research.
- Promote the inclusion of women in clinical trials to address gender biases.
- Education and Awareness:
- Conduct public health campaigns to raise awareness about conditions like breast cancer, osteoporosis, and menopause.
- Educate women and girls about reproductive health and hygiene.
- Workplace Health Initiatives:
- Implement workplace policies supporting menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
- Provide health insurance benefits tailored to women’s needs.
- Technological Interventions:
- Leverage digital health tools and telemedicine to provide remote access to care.
- Develop apps and platforms for tracking menstrual health and pregnancy care.
Women’s Health Impact Tracking (WHIT) platform
McKinsey Health Institute’s new report introduces the Women’s Health Impact Tracking (WHIT) platform, a publicly accessible tool to measure, track, and address nine health conditions driving the gap across 15 countries.
Selected conditions, in order of potential estimated gains in annual DALYs and GDP if the women’s health gap is closed by 2040:
Conditions that affect life span:
- Ischemic heart disease
- Cervical cancer
- Breast cancer
- Maternal hypertensive disorder
- Postpartum haemorrhage
Conditions that affect health span:
- Menopause
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Migraine
- Endometriosis
Six of the selected conditions are specific to women.
- Women are differently or disproportionately affected by the remaining three- ischemic heart disease, migraine, and breast cancer.
- Notably, how much any condition takes away from a woman’s quality of life or contributes to the end of her life can vary widely, particularly when considering factors such as race, ethnicity, income level, or where she lives.
Global Examples of Success
- Rwanda: Achieved dramatic improvements in maternal health through community health workers and universal healthcare programs.
- India: Programs like Janani Suraksha Yojana incentivize institutional deliveries to reduce maternal mortality.
- Nordic Countries: Comprehensive healthcare systems ensure equitable reproductive and mental health services access.
Conclusion
Closing the women’s health gap is essential for creating equitable and thriving societies.
Governments, businesses, and communities must work together to address systemic barriers, ensure access to quality care, and prioritize women’s health in policies and research.
Improved health outcomes for women translate into better economic and societal well-being for all.
The core elements of the women’s health gap indicate a need for better data, more effective interventions, improved care delivery, including all women, and increased investment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is the gender gap in health?
Ans: This inequity in healthcare between men and women and the subsequent gap that stops women from accessing the care that they need is termed the gender health gap.
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-Article by Swathi Satish
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