Revealing sex differences in non-obstetric healthcare utilisation at a rural tertiary care hospital in central India

Healthcare utilisation patterns often differ by sex, reflecting variations in health-seeking and service access. This study analyzed hospital record data to assess sex-based differences in non-obstetric outpatient and inpatient departmental services utilisation at a rural tertiary care hospital in central India. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted on hospital records from Kasturba Hospital, Sevagram, Maharashtra, covering the period from April 2018 to March 2019. Data on patient demographics, hospital admissions, and outpatient visits were extracted and analyzed to determine sex-based patterns. All data were anonymized to protect patient confidentiality. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to compare male and female utilisation patterns. Of 231,000 total patient encounters, 47.2% of OPD visits and 36.8% of IPD admissions were by females. Across all major departments, female representation declined from OPD to IPD, with the widest gap observed in orthopaedics and medicine. The mean inpatient expenditure was lower for females (INR 6,622 ± 13,459) than males (INR 7,385 ± 15,423; p < 0.001). Fewer females utilised inpatient services from distant districts, suggesting geographic constraints on hospital access. This study observed significant sex-based differences in healthcare utilisation within a rural tertiary hospital, with females representing a smaller proportion of both outpatient and inpatient users. The findings indicate a need for continued monitoring of sex-disaggregated hospital data and further research to explore biological, structural, and social factors influencing these patterns. Addressing these gaps requires focused policy efforts to ensure that women have equal access to healthcare services, ultimately improving health outcomes for all.