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Gender Differences in Access to Health Care Among the Elderly: Evidence from Southeast Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Yana van der Meulen Rodgers

    (Rutgers University)

  • Joseph E. Zveglich, Jr.

    (Asian Development Bank)

Abstract

Populations become increasingly feminized with age. Since older women are more vulnerable to poverty, they may find it more difficult than men to access health care. This study examines factors that may constrain older persons in Southeast Asia from meeting their health-care needs when sick. Our analysis of household survey data from Cambodia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam shows that women are more likely to have reported sickness or injury than men, a difference that is meaningful and statistically significant. While women in Cambodia and the Philippines are more likely to seek treatment than men, the gender difference is reversed in Viet Nam where stigma and discrimination associated with some diseases may more strongly deter women. The probability of seeking treatment rises with age more sharply for women than men in all countries. However, for the subsample of elders, the gender difference is not significant.

Suggested Citation

  • Yana van der Meulen Rodgers & Joseph E. Zveglich, Jr., 2021. "Gender Differences in Access to Health Care Among the Elderly: Evidence from Southeast Asia," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 633, Asian Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:adbewp:0633
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jayoung Yoon, 2014. "Counting Care Work in Social Policy: Valuing Unpaid Child- and Eldercare in Korea," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 65-89, April.
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    8. Zveglich, Joseph E. & van der Meulen Rodgers, Yana & Laviña, Editha A., 2019. "Expected work experience and the gender wage gap: A new human capital measure," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 372-383.
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    Cited by:

    1. Small, Sarah F. & van der Meulen Rodgers, Yana, 2023. "The gendered effects of investing in physical and social infrastructure," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    2. Rodgers, Yana van der Meulen & Zveglich, Joseph E. & Ali, Khadija & Xue, Hanna, 2025. "The role of family support in the well-being of older people: Evidence from Malaysia and Viet Nam," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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