Gender equality is an important and highly debated topic today. It is defined as equal access to opportunities, rights and resources for all. However, it is usually talked about in the context of education or career opportunities, legal rights, freedom to choose, etc. However, health inequality, one of the most serious inequalities women face, is not talked about enough.

India, despite being a $3.95 trillion economy, still struggles with significant health inequalities, particularly among women. A complex interplay of a multitude of socio-cultural, economic, infrastructural and geographic factors contributes to this burden among India’s approximately 700 million women, both in urban and rural areas. Orthodox societal norms, patriarchal practices, and economic considerations significantly restrict women’s access to improved health care.

Cultural practices

There is a deep-rooted preference for male children in Indian society. For example, women and girls are supposed to eat after men and boys, but they often have to eat what’s left. They are often relegated to the background. This is true not only in the field of nutrition, but also in that of education and particularly health care.

Another major bad practice is child marriage. Parents consider the marriage of girls as a major duty, the operating principle being the earlier the better. These early marriages lead to complications such as teenage pregnancies and serious health problems, which contribute to the poor health of women and infants.

Human prejudices

There are several prejudices among women themselves that prevent better health care. The belief that to be a woman is to endure “pain” without saying a word and therefore, with any health problem, women are expected to “bear” it. This prevents most of them from seeing a doctor and receiving appropriate care.

There is also a distrust of modern medicine among Indian women, leading them to resort to natural or home remedies or traditional medicine even for very serious problems. Modern medicine is considered “chemical” and exorbitant, especially for women, and is often used as a last resort, when the situation has already worsened.

Taboo subjects

Indians are conservative and that is why many topics like female menstruation, sexual matters and pleasure, childbirth, contraception, consent, sexually transmitted diseases, gynecological problems, etc. are discussed. are never discussed, even between women themselves. Many Indian women stay at home as housewives and are almost never exposed to information that can help them understand or seek help in these areas.

Societal norms

Indians have a very reactive mentality towards their health and well-being. And even when a health problem arises, women tend to put themselves last. A woman’s traditional role as caretaker of the family expects her to “sacrifice” for the sake of her family and put others before her own well-being. This major factor contributes to early detection of many serious health problems and diseases among Indian women.

Economic dependence

In Indian families, it is generally the men who hold the financial authority within the household. Women are primarily responsible for cooking and grocery shopping, and have little say in important decisions. This in turn limits their financial means and therefore their access to health care.

What is Femtech and how can it help reduce gender inequalities in health?

Femtech is essentially a technology developed with women and their needs in mind. It permeates a wide range of services, tools, devices and software created to improve women’s health outcomes. From menstrual tracking apps to fertility monitoring devices, Femtech solutions aim to empower women to take control of their health and well-being. These technologies can provide personalized health information, facilitate access to healthcare providers, and remove barriers that have traditionally hindered women’s healthcare experience, also in the privacy of their homes. .

The smartphone-Femtech combination to the rescue

While there is also a gender gap in smartphone ownership, more and more women in both rural and urban India now own a smartphone, and once they have one one, their propensity to consume Internet content is as high as that of men. This presents an opportunity for Femtech interventions that can help women pursue better health outcomes in some crucial areas.

Maternal and child health

Femtech can improve maternal and child health outcomes by providing access to prenatal care, maternal health monitoring and newborn care information. Femtech-enabled devices can monitor fetal health and detect early signs of complications. Additionally, Femtech can facilitate the dissemination of information on child development, nutrition and immunizations.

Reproductive health

Femtech can help improve access to reproductive health information and services. Period tracking apps can help women understand their menstrual cycles and plan the size of their family. Pregnancy tracking apps can provide essential information about prenatal care and fetal development. Additionally, Femtech-compatible diagnostic tools can improve the accuracy of cancer screening.

Chronic disease management

Chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, are on the rise in India. There is a misconception that these are “male” diseases, but more and more women are also suffering from these problems, which often go unreported. Even after diagnosis, women often do not prioritize chronic disease management. Femtech can empower women to manage their chronic conditions with personalized health monitoring, medication reminders, and access to health information in the privacy of their home.

Mental health

Mental health issues are often overlooked among women. Additionally, the stigma around the topic prevents them from seeking professional help. Femtech can provide support and resources to women experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. Mental health apps can offer coping strategies, information about available resources, and connections to other women.

Femtech offers a ready and extremely promising solution to tackle the health inequalities faced by Indian women. While behavioral changes and cultural re-engineering through various initiatives are also required to completely eradicate gender health inequalities in India, by leveraging technology, Femtech can improve access to health care. health, strengthen health education and enable women to take control of their health. As Femtech continues to evolve, it has the potential to transform the women’s health landscape in India and beyond.

(The author, Atin Roy, is Senior Vice President of Ogilvy Health & Wellness. He works with Ogilvy teams across functions and geographies on brands like P&G Health Asia, Nestlé, etc., as well as GSK Global, JHPIEGO and Colgate as part of WPP’s health and wellness practice.)