Gender Matters in Health: Describing gender health gaps in Luxembourg: Report

When discussing gender equality in Luxembourg, a common response is that women earn nearly as much as men and have relatively better job opportunities compared to other European Union (EU) countries. However, this view overlooks a critical issue: health inequality. Women in Luxembourg spend, on average, more than 13 years of their lives in poor health, which is higher than men (10 years of their lives in poor health). Health inequalities between men and women are often explained through a biological lens, emphasizing genetic, physiological, and hormonal differences. Yet, the influence of socio-economic conditions is frequently underestimated. Addressing gender- health inequalities requires a broader perspective that considers these social and economic factors. Acknowledging existing health problems and improving access to healthcare services for disadvantaged gender groups not only enhances overall well-being but also promotes workforce participation, productivity, and social cohesion. It also encourages innovation and contributes to a more prosperous and equitable society.
This report examines gender differences in three health domains: physical health (including multimorbidity, accidents and injuries, and severe pain), mental health (depressive symptoms), and healthcare use (unmet need for healthcare). These health outcomes often differ between men and women and are unequally distributed across genders due to the intersection of gender with various socioeconomic and demographic factors. The report compares the gender health gap in Luxembourg with that of other EU countries for the years 2014 and 2019, using data from the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), wave 2 (2014) and 3 (2019). It also discusses how gender intersects with socioeconomic and demographic factors, highlighting both between- and within-gender health gaps in Luxembourg in 2019.
In both 2014 and 2019, women in Luxembourg reported higher rates of multimorbidity, severe pain, depressive symptoms, and unmet healthcare needs than men. The gender gap in multimorbidity and severe pain were below the EU average, but increased more over time in Luxembourg than in most EU countries. The gender gap in depressive symptoms and unmet healthcare needs in Luxembourg increased between 2014 and 2019 and exceeded the EU average by 2019, contrasting with a declining trend at the EU level. For accidents and injuries, men had higher rates in 2014, but the gap nearly disappeared by 2019 due to an increase among women. In 2019, the gender gap in multimorbidity was largest among those aged 45–64 and 65+, highly educated, EU born residents, and those who were married/in a registered partnership or never married. For severe pain, the gender gap was significant among those aged 45–64, low-educated individuals, native-born residents, and divorced individuals. The gender gap in depressive symptoms were significant among those aged 15–44, with low education, non-EU-born residents, married, and with low social support.
For unmet healthcare needs, the gap was significant among residents aged 15–44, with low education, non-EU-born, never married, and those with poor social support.
We analysed gender variation in health by age groups and observed that women aged 65 and above with poor social support were more than twice as likely to experience multimorbidity compared to their men counterparts. A similar pattern was also seen with older women living alone. Young women aged 15 to 24 with low education were over six times more likely to report depressive symptoms than young men with low education. Additionally, non-EU-born women in this age group were nearly five times more likely to report depressive symptoms than men. This strong link between low education and the prevalence of depressive symptoms among women was also observed in the 25–34 and 35–44 age groups. Regarding unmet healthcare needs, women aged 15–44 with low education and those with poor social support were more likely to report unmet healthcare needs due to distance, compared to men with the same characteristics.
This report raises several critical questions for future research. The authors advocate for more gender-sensitive studies in Luxembourg that consider the complex intersection between gender, socioeconomic status, and demographic factors in health. They call for information on gender identities, beyond the binary gender spectrum, in large-scale surveys. They also encourage prioritising gender-transformative research, exploring how harmful gender roles and power dynamics affect health equity in Luxembourg.