Intersectional Differences in Accessing Public Healthcare Facility of Women in India: A Spatial and Multidimensional Analysis

Manideepa Mahato, International Institute For Population Sciences

Accessibility to healthcare facilities is one of the basic amenities for the Public Healthcare system to combat poor health outcomes in developing and underdeveloped countries. Despite demographic transition and economic growth, healthcare remains inaccessible to a significant portion of women, which particularly can be observed by their health status in India. Analyzing 26,650 samples from the 5th round of NFHS, this study examined the spatial distribution of healthcare inaccessibility and multi-dimensional factors hindering access to public healthcare facilities among women of reproductive age by categorising facilities into technical and non-technical. By using the concept of Intersectionality, findings revealed ST-Poor-Rural women were adversely affected most. Multivariate analysis identified age, religion, caste, education, wealth status, bank account ownership, occupation sector, health insurance coverage as significant predictors of healthcare access issues. Technical problems, such as drug unavailability, absence of healthcare providers and even lack of female healthcare providers, were prevalent. The study underscores the urgent need for improved accessibility and availability of public healthcare facilities to enhance women's health outcomes. It advocates for regular monitoring and regulation of the healthcare system to address these challenges effectively. Keywords: public healthcare facilities, utilization, healthcare disparities, marginalized women and problems.

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Population and Development, Population Policies, Spatial Demography

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