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Gender differences are as old as human culture and arose from the biological differences between early human males and females. Gender inequality and equality is most perceived as pertaining to women and their related issues in which men are seen as a dominating force. The roots of health inequalities are many, interconnected and complex. According to socio-biological theorists, in addition to health inequalities being linked to genetic and biological differences, social variables have been identified as a source of health inequalities (Denton et al., 2004). The present paper is explored the care pattern of children during illness and gender disparity in allocation of health care. The sample was drawn from 335 rural mothers, who have at least a male and a female child are selected from four blocks of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, by systematic random sampling method. The study findings reveal that, 80% of household the husband alone makes decision regarding the treatment of their children and 48% of the respondents said that, their parents only take care of the children when they fall sick. The most preferred place for the mothers (42%) in treating their children was government hospitals. The 60% of mothers were traveling 7.5 k.m to access health care. The Younger mothers showing disparity to female children in duration of medical care. The study further divulges that, as income of the family increases, disparity against the female children decreases. The study concludes that the mother who faces disparity not showing any inequity between the children of the both sex. Introduction The child’s health and survival depend upon the degree of care with which the child is brought up. Child care starting from birth to the end of childhood is an important consideration in understanding the determinants of child health. The type of care provided to the child may be divided into two main groups: medical and non-medical care. The medical care comprises immunization, timely and appropriate treatment of illness and medical attention at birth. The non-medical care consists of feeding practices, timing of initiation and duration of breastfeeding and introduction of supplementary feeding. South Asia is well known as being a region of the World where the normally higher number of females than males in the total population is reversed. The factor which is worrying India is the continuing decline of sex ratio (Census of India, 2001). This deteriorating trend may be due to lack of medical and non-medical support to females. Policy-makers have been aware of this trend and have attempted corrective measures. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh quoted after inaugurating the National Meeting on “Save the Girl Child”, was emphatic about the issue “India was living with the “ignominy” of an adverse gender balance. The last census showed a declining sex ratio. Multiple deprivations all with roots in the oppressive structure of patriarchy has resulted in a bias against girls and women. This is a shame and we must face the challenge squarely” (Daily News & Analysis, 2009). In India there have been significant improvements in the health, employment, and educational status of women over time. Yet, health indices for girls and women compare much less favourably with those of boys and men. The government has recognized the inequalities in health indices and has implemented many schemes to improve women’s health like National Rural Health Mission, providing care for women, especially during pregnancy and delivery and after child birth. But the detailed analysis of national data disaggregated by gender, show far greater improvement for males than for females (The Hindu Editorial, 2009). Though women are born with an advantage; their healthy life expectancy is two years longer and their life expectancy six years longer than those of men but widespread gender discrimination at each stage of the female life cycle, prevalent in a few societies in South Asia, reduces the life expectancy of girls and women and diminishes their chance of survival. This may be attributed to health disparity, sex selective abortions, and neglect of girl children, reproductive mortality and poor access to health care. The perinatal mortality rate, infant mortality rate and under-5 mortality rate are poorer for girls. It is mostly because they are malnourished and brought to hospital later in their course of illnesses than boys (The Hindu Editorial, 2009). Similarly, the results of a cross-sectional household survey in a poor agrarian region of South India found evidence of “pure gender bias” in non-treatment operating against both non-poor and poor women, and evidence of “rationing bias” in discontinued treatment operating against poor women (Iyer et al, 2007). Pokhrel (2007) also assessed the role of gender in child health care utilization in Nepal and the findings are consistent with those in India and Pakistan. Gender role not only affects illness but also affects the decision to choose a health care provider and how much to spend on the sick child and it also affects the entire steps of a health seeking action. Significance of the Study Women receive less healthcare facilities than men. A primary way that parents discriminate against their girl children is through neglect during illness. As an adult they tend to be less likely to admit that they are sick and may wait until their sickness has progressed far before they seek help or help is sought for them. Many women in rural areas die in childbirth due to easily preventable complications. Women’s social training to tolerate suffering and their reluctance to be examined by male personnel are additional constraints in their getting adequate health care. Four critical areas of women’s health and physical wellbeing deserve special attention: discrimination against girls resulting in higher female mortality; poor nutrition; poor reproductive health; and lower use of medical services when sick. The primary way in which parents discriminate against girls is through neglect during |
