LAUSR

PurposeTwo of the crucial components of health care service utilisation are the type of health care services received (government, private, others) and the place visited (same village, another village, another district/town, a metro city, abroad, etc.). The association between health care facilities and gender is important for understanding the disparities between males and females. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to reassess the gender differences in the type and place of health care utilisation.MethodsData from the second round of the India Human Development Survey (2011–2012) were used for this study. Analysis was done using both bi- and multivariate techniques (multinomial logistic regression).ResultsResults indicate an improvement in the female health care-seeking behaviour. We found that females have a higher tendency to visit private health care centres, whereas a higher percentage of males used government health care services for the treatment of both long- and short-term morbidities. Males and females reported visiting health care centres within the village, in another village, in another district/town and in a metro area/abroad for treatment approximately to the same extent.ConclusionThe analysis of the male and female treatment-seeking behaviour revealed a clear picture of proliferating gender neutrality. The increase in the health care-seeking behaviour of women can be considered an upshot of improved female education and increased awareness among males regarding female empowerment. Government interventions in different sectors have also improved the plight of women directly or indirectly.