Gender differences in Northern India's healthcare : Some health care workers’ experiences

Abstract: Background: A movement to improve women’s healthcare was started in 1885. Since then a lot of improvements have been made, but in order to provide all genders with equal healthcare, society has to pay more attention to gender disparity. Purpose: The aim of this study was to get an understanding of whether employees of The Tibetan settlement experience that a patient’s gender is affecting how they and/or their colleagues treat a patient.  Method: The data were collected by eight semi-structured interviews and semi-structured observations. The collected data were analyzed with a qualitative content analysis and three themes and five sub-themes were identified. Result: The result showed that there are experiences of gender-based approach in healthcare in the form of a more polite approach towards women. These differences were explained by the experiences that women and men need different approaches because of culture, gender inequality in society and because women are more sensitive than men. The participants experienced that except for the approach they treat all patients the same regardless of gender and they think this is because of their culture and training in awareness. Conclusion: The study showed experiences of differences in the approach depending on gender. Some health care workers approach female patients more gently and politely than they approach male patients. From the study’s result it is also concluded that except for how they approach patient’s there are no experienced gender differences in healthcare.