Gender Inequalities in Remote Settings: Analysis of 105,025 Medical Records of a Rural Hospital in Ethiopia (2005–2015)

Accorsi, Sandro; Somigliana, Edgardo; Farese, Pasquale; Tsegaye, Ademe; Desta, Yonas; Putoto, Giovanni; Manenti, Fabio

doi:10.1007/s10900-017-0321-z

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…One structural example of structural gender disparities can be found in the rates of hospital admissions. In high-income countries, the gender ratio for overnight hospital stays and emergency medical admissions is nearly equivalent [ 11 – 14 ]. Women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) present less frequently in similar medical circumstances, with studies reporting male-to-female ratios of 2.2 for emergency abdominal surgeries and 1.4 for general admissions, excluding obstetric care [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The gender gap and healthcare: associations between gender roles and factors affecting healthcare access in Central Malawi, June–August 2017

Azad

Charles

Ding³

et al. 2020

Arch Public Health

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Background Women in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) do not have equal access to resources, such as education, employment, or healthcare compared to men. We sought to explore health disparities and associations between gender prioritization, sociocultural factors, and household decision-making in Central Malawi. Methods From June–August 2017, a cross-sectional study with 200 participants was conducted in Central Malawi. We evaluated respondents’ access to care, prioritization within households, decision-making power, and gender equity which was measured using the Gender-Equitable Men (GEM) scale. Relationships between these outcomes and sociodemographic factors were analyzed using multivariable mixed-effect logistic regression. Results We found that women were less likely than men to secure community-sourced healthcare financial aid (68.6% vs. 88.8%, p < 0.001) and more likely to underutilize necessary healthcare (37.2% vs. 22.4%, p = 0.02). Both men and women revealed low GEM scores, indicating adherence to traditional gender norms, though women were significantly less equitable (W:16.77 vs. M:17.65, p = 0.03). Being a woman (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21–0.78) and prioritizing a woman as a decision-maker for large purchases (OR 0.38, CI 0.15–0.93) were independently associated with a lower likelihood of prioritizing women for medical treatment and being a member of the Chewa tribal group (OR 3.87, CI 1.83–8.18) and prioritizing women for education (OR 4.13, CI 2.13–8.01) was associated with a higher odds. Conclusion Women report greater barriers to healthcare and adhere to more traditional gender roles than men in this Central Malawian population. Women contribute to their own gender’s barriers to care and economic empowerment alone is not enough to correct for these socially constructed roles. We found that education and matriarchal societies may protect against gender disparities. Overall, internal and external gender discrimination contribute to a woman’s disproportionate lack of access to care.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The gender gap and healthcare: associations between gender roles and factors affecting healthcare access in Central Malawi, June–August 2017

Azad

Charles

Ding³

et al. 2020

Arch Public Health

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“…Malaria awareness, exposure behaviors and preventive measures were assessed using a specific questionnaire based on malaria toolkit materials [ 13 ] and other previous studies conducted in Africa, and specifically in Ghana [ 5 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. The questionnaire addressed: (i) composition of the household; (ii) literacy; (iii) occupation, with reference to malaria exposure risk; (iv) availability of bed nets in the household and their use, (v) general malaria preventive measures; (vi) attitude towards self-initiated medication; (vii) the household tasks which might lead to exposure to mosquito bites, and the decision-making process when needing to access health services were also investigated; along with (viii) household composition; (ix) house building materials; (x) water sanitation services; (xi) general economic status; and (xii) different mosquito breeding habitats.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Malaria Risk Factors Based on Gender? A Mixed-Methods Survey in an Urban Setting in Ghana

et al. 2021

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Malaria still represents one of the most debilitating and deadly diseases in the world. It has been suggested that malaria has different impacts on women and men due to both social and biological factors. A gender perspective is therefore important to understand how to eliminate malaria. This study aimed to investigate malaria from a gender perspective in a non-for-profit private health facility, HopeXchange Medical Centre, based in Kumasi (Ghana). A sequential mixed-methods design, comprising quantitative and qualitative methods, was used. This study found low ownership (40%) and use (19%) of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). Most malaria cases were women (62%), who were less educated and had more external risk factors associated with infection. Our study reported a trend of preferring malaria self-medication at home, which was practiced mostly by men (43%). Our data suggest that women are more likely to be exposed to malaria infections than men, especially due to their prolonged exposure to mosquito bites during the most dangerous hours. Our study highlighted the need for future malaria control policies to be more focused on social and behavioral aspects and from a gender perspective.

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“…The case-control study aimed to investigate malaria awareness amongst malaria cases (cases) and in a sample of healthy subjects (controls), a speci c questionnaire was designed based on malaria toolkit materials (31) and other previous studies conducted in Africa and speci cally in Ghana. (12,(32)(33)(34). The questionnaire addressed : (i) composition of the household, (ii) literacy, (iii) occupation, with reference to malaria exposure risk, (iv) availability of bed nets in the household and their use, (v) general malaria preventive measures (vi) and attitude towards self-initiated medication; (vi) the household tasks which might lead to exposure to mosquito bites, and the decision-making process when needing to access health services were also investigated, along with (vii) household composition, (viii) house building materials, (ix) water sanitation services, (x) general economic status and (xi) different mosquito breeding habitats.…”

Section: Quantitative Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Malaria Risk Factors based on Gender? A Mixed-methods Survey in an Urban Setting in Ghana.

Quaresima

Agbenyega

Oppong

et al. 2021

Preprint

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BackgroundMalaria still represents one of the most debilitating and deadly disease in the world; an estimated 229 million cases of malaria occurred globally in 2019 resulting in 409 000 deaths. The ongoing struggle for malaria elimination requires the scientific community to employ new methods. Gender-based medicine continues to acquire more importance in non-communicable as well as communicable diseases. It has been suggested that malaria has different impact on women and men due to both social and biological factors. A gender perspective is therefore important to understand how to eliminate malaria. MethodsThe enrolment of this study was conducted between June and October 2018 at the HopeXchange Medical Centre (HXC), located in the suburbs of Kumasi (Ghana). A sequential mixed-methods design comprising quantitative and qualitative methods was used. The quantitative methods consisted in the prospective assessment of malaria cases presented to hospital with malaria infection, along with a case-control investigation in the hospital catchment area. Whereas focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were employed as qualitative approaches. ResultsOne hundred-and-twenty-four individuals were diagnosed with malaria at HXC and enrolled. This study found a low ownership (40%) and use (19%) of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) compared to the national data (57%). Most malaria cases were women (62%), who were less educated and had more external risk factors associated with infection. Our study reported a trend of preferring malaria self-medication at home. This was practiced mostly by men (43%) and more among cases (38%) than controls (21%). Many misconceptions and beliefs about malaria still exist in some Kumasi communities. ConclusionsThe mixed methods approach employed in this study allowed the identification of gender differences in risk factors for malaria infection. The study unexpectedly found a decreased ITN use and an increased self-medication preference among respondents. Our data suggest that women are more likely to be exposed to malaria infections than men, especially due to their prolonged exposure to mosquito bites during the most dangerous hours. Our study highlighted the need for future malaria control policies to be more focused on social and behavioral aspects, and not only concentrated on biological or clinical factors.

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Gender Inequalities in Remote Settings: Analysis of 105,025 Medical Records of a Rural Hospital in Ethiopia (2005–2015)

Cited by 3 publications

References 10 publications

The gender gap and healthcare: associations between gender roles and factors affecting healthcare access in Central Malawi, June–August 2017

The gender gap and healthcare: associations between gender roles and factors affecting healthcare access in Central Malawi, June–August 2017

Are Malaria Risk Factors Based on Gender? A Mixed-Methods Survey in an Urban Setting in Ghana

Are Malaria Risk Factors based on Gender? A Mixed-methods Survey in an Urban Setting in Ghana.

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