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The effect of maternal education on gender bias in care-seeking for common childhood illnesses

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  • Bhan, Gautam
  • Bhandari, Nita
  • Taneja, Sunita
  • Mazumder, Sarmila
  • Bahl, Rajiv

Abstract

This paper assessed gender bias within hospitalisation rates to ascertain whether differential care-seeking practices significantly contribute to excess female mortality. It then examined the impact of socio-economic factors, particularly maternal education and economic status, on gender bias. The results find both the clear and significant impact of gender on hospitalisation rates, as well as the simultaneous inability of rising education and economic status to alleviate this bias. A secondary analysis was conducted within a uniquely large and ongoing randomised control trial that sought to measure the impact of Zinc supplementation on hospitalisations and deaths in low-income communities in New Delhi, India. During the course of the study, 85,633 children were enrolled and monitored over one year of follow-up. Of the 430 deaths that occurred, 230 were female (0.57% of total females), while 200 were male (0.43% of all males). Despite this higher mortality amongst females (p

Suggested Citation

  • Bhan, Gautam & Bhandari, Nita & Taneja, Sunita & Mazumder, Sarmila & Bahl, Rajiv, 2005. "The effect of maternal education on gender bias in care-seeking for common childhood illnesses," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(4), pages 715-724, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:60:y:2005:i:4:p:715-724
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cleland, John G. & van Ginneken, Jerome K., 1988. "Maternal education and child survival in developing countries: The search for pathways of influence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 27(12), pages 1357-1368, January.
    2. Ahmed, Syed Masud & Adams, Alayne M. & Chowdhury, Mushtaque & Bhuiya, Abbas, 2000. "Gender, socioeconomic development and health-seeking behaviour in Bangladesh," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 361-371, August.
    3. Pillai, Rajamohanan K & Williams, Sankey V. & Glick, Henry A. & Polsky, Daniel & Berlin, Jesse A. & Lowe, Robert A., 2003. "Factors affecting decisions to seek treatment for sick children in Kerala, India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(5), pages 783-790, September.
    4. Bicego, George T. & Ties Boerma, J., 1993. "Maternal education and child survival: A comparative study of survey data from 17 countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 1207-1227, May.
    5. Hossain, M.M. & Glass, R.I., 1988. "Parental son preference in seeking medical care for children less than five years of age in a rural community in Bangladesh," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 78(10), pages 1349-1350.
    6. Koenig, Michael A. & D'Souza, Stan, 1986. "Sex differences in childhood mortality in rural Bangladesh," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 15-22, January.
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