Page 199 - GHES-3-2

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Gender inequality and healthcare

3. Results and the second lowest access to anti-retroviral drugs. As
Africa is predominantly where HIV incidence reports are
3.1. Gender inequality and preventative health documented, this chart suggests a socioeconomic issue
We analyzed the role of gender in the association between beyond gender – access to HIV drugs is lowest in the
different dimensions of preventative healthcare. First, we countries that need them most, impacting both genders.
assessed the association between access to anti-retroviral This is possibly due to poor awareness, limited education,
drugs (as an aspect of preventative health) and the and a low standard of living.
incidence of HIV (Figure 1). Figure 3 displays the association between measles
Figure 1 displays the relationship between access to anti- immunization rate (as an indicator of preventative health)
retroviral drugs and incidence of HIV by region for males and life expectancy for males and females. The chart
(Figure 1A) and females (Figure 1B). Over the years, access indicates that while the life expectancy of females has
to anti-retroviral drugs has increased, leading to a gradual remained lower than that of males, the gap has reduced
decrease in the incidence of HIV for both genders. Higher in recent years. Increased immunization rates have
access to anti-retroviral drugs is generally associated with contributed to a longer life expectancy and may help
lower HIV incidence rates. In general, females have a higher reduce gender inequity in health.
rate of access to anti-retroviral drugs and a lower incidence
of HIV compared to males. The significant association 3.2. Gender inequality, income, and HIV
between increased drug access and lower HIV incidence The association between gender inequity, in terms of the
in women is promising and provides a strong rationale for economic dimension of a country’s income level, and
healthcare policies aimed at promoting gender equality. health outcomes, that is, HIV incidence and mortality rate,
Figure 2 displays the association between access to are presented in Figures 4 and 5, respectively.
anti-retroviral drugs and life expectancy by region for Figure 4 displays the proportion of HIV incidence in
males (Figure 2A) and females (Figure 2B). The size of different income levels (high, medium, and low) for males
the box indicates the accessibility to anti-retroviral drugs, (Figure 4A) and females (Figure 4B). HIV incidence in
and the color intensity represents the life expectancy. females is lower overall for all income levels. However, the
For both genders, Africa has the lowest life expectancy discrepancy is notably higher for the middle-income level,

A

B

Figure 1. Association between access to anti-retroviral drugs and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence among males (A) and
females (B) Shaded areas refer to access to anti-retroviral drugs; lines refer to the average incidence of HIV.

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 191 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.5776