Influence of socio-economic and cultural factors on women’s health in India: An overview

Gender is one of the social determinants of health status. In this context, the high degree of gender difference in a nation like India has a detrimental effect on women’s health. Women, through the ages, have been subjected to discrimination due to traditions, social norms, cultural marginalisation, financial dependence, and other factors. Global literature also reflects this fact. Women are more likely to be hungry, poor, and illiterate compared to men; they also have fewer opportunities to find work and less access to healthcare services and education. Pregnancy and childbirth-related deaths are more prevalent among rural women. The health status of women not only reflects the physical state of an individual woman but also her role and position in the family and community. There are some limitations which severely restrict the capacity of women and adolescent girls to get high-quality medical care. Several variables influence women’s perceptions of personal safety and reproductive decisions. This paper examines women’s health in terms of socio-economic and cultural factors such as caste, education, employment, income, food-related beliefs, and women’s autonomy.