Exploring the association between gender inequality and healthcare: A visualization study

This study investigates the multiplex association between gender inequality and healthcare. The aim of the study is to comprehend how inequalities in gender affect healthcare across different populations worldwide. Visualization was conducted to study the effect of various gender inequality variables on different healthcare indicators. The study emphasizes the critical need for eliminating gender inequalities to reduce disparities in healthcare. By analyzing publicly available data from the World Bank, we find that higher access to anti-retroviral drugs is associated with a lower incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among both genders and higher life expectancy. Importantly, increased female engagement in politics and government is linked to higher life expectancy. In addition, higher female representation is associated with lower fertility rates (particularly in high-income countries) and a declining incidence of HIV over time. Higher parity among the genders in school enrollment increases overall life expectancy, with female expectancy exceeding that of males. Simultaneously, higher parity is associated with reduced fertility rates. A lower enrollment among females is also correlated to higher fertility rates. Finally, higher parity also reduces the mortality rate for several diseases. Economic growth, education, income, political and government representation, population, and unemployment influence gender inequities, leading to disparities in healthcare delivery.