GENDER EQUITY IN HEALTH CARE: THE CASE OF SWEDISH DIABETES CARE

Abstract:

To explore the issue of gender equity in diabetes care in Sweden and to develop strategies for monitoring gender equity in health care, population-based studies and statistics published since 1990 were reviewed that contained gender-specific data on health care utilization, glycemic control, patient satisfaction, health-related quality of life, and mortality from diabetes. The review shows that diabetic women in Sweden report more frequent outpatient contacts, less patient satisfaction, and a lower health-related quality of life than diabetic men. No gender differences were found in the level of glycemic control. Young and middle-aged men with diabetes have a high excess all-cause mortality as compared with nondiabetic men. A trend toward stronger social gradient in mortality among women than men with diabetes was observed in a large nationwide study. The reasons for the observed gender differences are uncertain but may constitute a combination of medical, psychological, and social factors. Monitoring the impact of gender should become an integrated part of quality management in diabetes care. As long as the relationship between use and outcomes of care is not fully understood, analyses of gender equity should address both health care utilization and outcomes of care.

My Opinion:

Gender equity is still very misunderstood for even gender equality and inequality raises a lot of queries and causes never ending debates all around the world. Emma Watson quoted that "...we all see gender as a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals." The world still has not quite had the grasp of understanding this spectrum. If anything at all is happening is that this spectrum that Watson speaks of is getting murkier everyday. In such a chaotic, gender segregated world, equity among genders has not caught the limelight.

In Sweden however, the issue has been researched upon in correlation to diabetes care. It is stated that a combination of medical, psychological and social factors are needed if equity in diabetes care must be achieved.

In Asia, gender equity is not achieved and seems very far fetched at the moment with men holding higher grounds in most cases. We need to identify and address the gender inequity in seeking medical care and attention, especially for diabetes and work towards better outcomes. Health care must be utilized by specifying the needs of male and female separately rather than just being general or biased to just one gender. Analysis is required to identify the inequity gap that is faced by both genders and its causes. With the help of public health experts and psychologists, I am sure a solution can be conjured up to aid doctors in managing diabetes holistically. 

Reference:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07399330050082245?needAccess=true