ISLAMABAD: A new analysis of national health data reveals a significant gender disparity in end-of-life care in Pakistan, showing that women are considerably more likely than men to die at home rather than in a medical facility.
The report, released by Gallup Pakistan Digital Analytics on Monday, utilizes microdata from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) to map out where Pakistanis spend their final moments.
The findings suggest that while domestic settings remain the primary place of death for the general population, the path to institutional healthcare is frequently more accessible for men. According to the data, nearly 62% of female deaths occur at home. In contrast, male deaths at home stand at 56%.
While the report acknowledges that dying at home can sometimes align with cultural or personal preferences, the six-percentage-point gap raises concerns regarding structural barriers that may prevent women from receiving professional medical intervention during terminal or acute illnesses.
The disparity is further reflected in hospital statistics. Approximately 40% of men reach hospitals, clinics, or dispensaries before passing away, compared to only 36% of women. Researchers suggest this indicates that men are more likely to be transported to and admitted into institutional care during the advanced stages of illness.
The study also highlighted a notable difference in accidental or transit-related deaths. Men are twice as likely to die on the road as women, with 4% of male deaths occurring in transit compared to less than 2% for women. This trend is attributed to higher male exposure to occupational hazards, public spaces, and traffic.
While the data does not explicitly prove active discrimination, Gallup Pakistan noted that the patterns point toward deep-seated structural constraints. These include limited mobility for women, reduced decision-making power within the household, and delayed care-seeking behaviors that often result in women failing to reach a health facility at critical moments.
Health experts viewing the report suggest that end-of-life outcomes serve as a sensitive indicator of broader systemic inequality. The findings underscore that gendered access to services persists until the very end of life, highlighting a quiet but powerful dimension of healthcare inequity that experts say requires urgent policy intervention.
