Volume : 9, Issue : 8, AUG 2023

GENDER GAP IN HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR: A SOCIOLOGICAL INTROSPECTION

G.SUDHARSANA, DR.M.JEYASEELAN

Abstract

The health of women is of particular concern because, in many societies, they are marginalized due to socio cultural factors. Women need to breach many social barriers to empower and to get access for quality health care services. Health seeking behavior is one of the important determinants of women health. The patriarchal society produces unequal living conditions which drive inequalities in health. This clearly shows that still there will be gender gap in health seeking still exists in our present-day society. So, there is need to give an attention to find gender gap in health seeking behaviour in rural areas. The present study was carried out among the fourty five respondents who were drawn from Four hundred fifty seven universes by using systematic random sampling. The information was sought by administering interview schedule on them. The study found most of the respondents accepted that there were discrimination existed in the society with respect to health seeking behaviour. The study concludes that bridging the gender gap in health-seeking behavior requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses cultural, economic, and social barriers. It suggests that promoting education, accessibility, empowerment, and gender-sensitive healthcare, we can reach gender parity in health seeking behaviour.

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