title: Does access to medicines differ by gender? Evidence from 15 low and middle income countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine gender differences in access to prescribed medicines in 15 lower and middle income countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The proportion of consultations with at least one prescription for women in three age groups (<15, 15-59, 60+ years) with acute respiratory infections (ARI), depression and diabetes in routine audits was compared to the expected proportion calculated from WHO Global Burden of Disease estimates. Newer oral hypoglycaemic medication prescribing was also analysed. Differences reported by country, age group, and condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  487,841 consultations examined between January 2007 and September 2010 in low (n = 1), lower middle (6), and upper middle income (8) countries. No country favoured one gender exclusively, but gender differences were common. Taking the 15 countries together, only diabetes treatment revealed a significant difference, with women being treated less often than expected (p = 0.02). No consistent differences found across countries grouped by World Bank income category, WHO region or Global Gender Gap Index. Overall, women had equal access to newer oral hypoglycaemics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender differences in access to prescribed medicines for three common conditions are common, but favour neither gender consistently. This challenges prevailing hypotheses of systematic disparities in access to care for women. Evidence about gender disparities should influence policy design.
authors: IMS HEALTH, 210 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JY, United Kingdom. pstephens@uk.imshealth.com
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Stephens
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Ross-Degnan
authors: Anita K
authors: AK
authors: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs