Research on sociocultural factors impacting rural women's healthcare access in Sargodha District

Abstract

The primary objective of the study was to ascertain the social factors that impact the rural women's capacity to avail healthcare services. The secondary aim of this study was to examine the association between gender-based discrimination and other socio-cultural disadvantages that rural women in Pakistan face in terms of accessing healthcare. The study was characterized by a descriptive and quantitative approach, utilizing a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted in the district of Sargodha, using a multistage sampling procedure. In the present study, a simple random sample design was employed to choose the villages, union councils, and tehsils. Conversely, a pragmatic sample technique was utilized for the participants, specifically targeting adult and young women. The sample consisted of a total of 200 respondents. The data was collected by a pre-tested questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, and frequencies, percentages, and chi-square tests were employed to evaluate the hypotheses. The findings confirm the existence of a significant gender disparity in the availability of healthcare services for women living in rural areas. The results confirm the existence of a significant gender disparity in the availability of healthcare services for women living in rural areas. The current research suggests that differences in healthcare access among persons facing various economic, social, and psychological challenges are driven by social determinants. Women facing disadvantages in terms of healthcare access, resources, or ownership are disproportionately affected, impeding their capacity to achieve even the most basic living standards. The research underscores the crucial need of ensuring women's complete involvement in social and political domains to enable their significant contributions to the development process.