Views on Health inequaities

 

Health inequalities: Health inequalities are disparities in health outcomes that are systematic. Health inequalities are disparities in health status or health resource distribution among different population groups that result from the socio-economic circumstances in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.

Lets take example of Bihar attached below Is the pdf of Bihar’s survey sheet about the key health indicators in the state .

As one can clearly see from the data ,its pretty evident ,the health inequalities that exists the in the state. Like, the female population who attended school is 58.7 % in rural areas and 74.2 in urban areas. Even the households using clean fuel for cooking is only 30.3% in rural areas and 78.6% in urban areas  . This difference in figures clearly shows the gap in the amenities, development and facilities that are available in rural areas versus in urban areas .when it comes to education there are significant discrepancies between the opportunities that  men get vs the opportunities that women get .For example only 55 % are literate where as percentage of literate men is 76.4. There are only 20% of women who have ever used internet where as 40 % of men have used internet in the state. Even when it comes to mobile phones only 49 % women have used mobile phones in the rural areas. Still almost 50 % women have experienced domestic violence in the state .These figures indicate the astonishing and sad situation of women even I 21^st century . There are many campaigns about equality and education for girls but the ground reality is still that women don’t get as many opportunities as men . Situation is worse in rural areas as only 51 % women are literate in rural areas where 72% are literate in urban areas. Even when it comes to care during pregnancy. Urban women get more care and facilities than rural women. only 78% women are attended by skilled personnel during pregnancies in urban areas , where as 88% are attended by   skilled personnel in urban areas.

However when it comes to child care the state has done a pretty good job is providing equal amenities to both rural areas and urban areas. The vaccination figures are impressive and almost equal  in both rural and urban areas.

The above facts and figures prove that the state is still miles away from achieving health equality. But its not impossible. Based on the above analysis the state can achieve health equality by development of rural areas, through various awareness campaigns about gender equality and healthy lifestyle. Various government programmes, rules and regulations can also help  in improving state’s health condition.