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Gender bias in child care and child health: global patterns

Rohan Khera1, Snigdha Jain, Rakesh Lodha

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, , Iowa City, USA.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|December 18, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Gender discrimination in pediatric healthcare negatively impacts girls' health, particularly in South Asia. This bias contributes to worsening child sex ratios due to neglect and unequal medical care access.

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Gender Studies

Background:

  • Gender-based discrimination is prevalent in pediatric healthcare settings worldwide, with a concentration in South Asia and China.
  • Discrimination manifests in various forms, including disparities in immunization rates, nutrition, and healthcare-seeking behaviors for young girls.
  • This unequal access to medical care significantly impacts the overall health and well-being of female children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the pervasive nature of gender-based discrimination in pediatric healthcare.
  • To examine the consequences of this discrimination on female children's health outcomes.
  • To underscore the link between healthcare biases and declining child sex ratios in regions like India.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of existing literature on gender disparities in pediatric healthcare.
  • Analysis of data on child sex ratios and healthcare expenditure across different regions.
  • Qualitative assessment of reported biases in emergency, inpatient, outpatient, and preventive care.

Main Results:

  • Significant gender-based biases documented across all levels of pediatric care, predominantly in South Asia and China.
  • Girls receive less healthcare, including essential immunizations and treatment for ailments, compared to boys.
  • Declining under-5 sex ratios in India are partly attributed to parental neglect of girls' medical needs, alongside sex-selective abortions.

Conclusions:

  • Gender discrimination in pediatric healthcare is a critical issue with severe health implications for girls.
  • Addressing these biases is essential for improving female child health and correcting skewed sex ratios.
  • Urgent, focused interventions are required to ensure equitable healthcare access for all children.

Keywords:
General PaediatricsHealth Service

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