1Technical Officer-B, Department of sociobehavioural, Research National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Maduraiunit, Tamilnadu, 625020, E.mail: e.thiru@gmail.com
2Professor & Head i/c, Department of Women's Studies, Algappa University, Karaikudi, Email: rajumurugandr@yahoo.co.in
3Technical Assistant, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, Email: manopriyann@gmail.com
Online published on 2 March, 2017.
Prevailing gender inequitable norms and poor decision making ability has far reaching effects in access to health care and well being of rural women. Therefore, the researchers undertook this study to suggest strategies to meet gender specific health needs right from formulation of policies to implementation. This feministic research was carried during the last quarter of 2008. Households with more than two women members were enlisted for further data collection done after obtaining oral consent. A total of 605 interviews in 300 households were conducted. This study has shown that few respondents were illiterate. More than half of respondents felt private hospital offer better services. One tenth of the respondents were unhappy to give birth to girl child. Women's participation becomes inevitable in primary health care, service planning and service delivery. Service hours at public health system should be changed and national ban should come into force on any kind of private practice by all full time medical care providers.
Gender health inequality, socioeconomic determinants, formulation of policies
