Socioeconomic Determinants of Gender Differences in Health Among Older Population: Evidence From India

Gender-based inequalities in health have been frequently documented in public health literatures. This paper examines specific questions of older persons in India like, are there gender differences in poor self-rated measures of health status? What is the relative importance of socioeconomic determinants of health considering gender dimension of older persons? Can the gender differences in health be attributed to the differing socioeconomic contexts in which women and men live?

This study explores the prevalence and factors associated with health among older men and older women in India by using data from the 60^th round of National Sample Survey (NSS), 2004.

The findings suggest that poor self-rated health and physical immobility was more likely among older women than men. Large differences in health were evident by age, educational attainment, economic status and region of residence. Both gross effect and fixed effect binary logit models yield statistically significant socioeconomic factors. Age and place of residence are the most important determinants of health among female elderlies. Social structural and psychosocial determinants of health are generally more important for women, while behavioural determinants are generally more significant for men.

There is a clear need for gender-sensitive health interventions to address the higher level of poor health and physical immobility among older women. Moreover, in a country like India where social security systems and affordable health care for the older population is largely lacking, an integrated approach is needed both at research as well as in social and health policies to take into account the varied effects of socioeconomic forces considering gender dimensions of elderly’s health.