Girls under five receive less health care than boys of the same age and are dying more than expected in low- and middle-income countries due to gender discrimination, according to a study conducted by the International Center for Equity in Health at the Federal University Of Pelotas (UFPel).

The conclusion is part of the master's thesis developed in the Post Graduate Program in Epidemiology of UFPel, authored by nutritionist Janaína Calu, under the guidance of Professor Cesar Victora.

"Science has already proven that boys are biologically more fragile than girls, especially in the first year of life. Therefore, the mortality of boys is universally higher than that of girls in early childhood, under natural conditions, "explains the author.

According to her, the study identifies countries in which gender inequalities - inadequate dietary practices or lack of health care for girls - are reversing the natural relationship, making the mortality of girls higher, which is not expected, for example, when all children receive the same care.

The survey used data on the demand for health services and mortality rates for children under five in 60 low- and middle-income countries. Data analysis was divided into two parts. In one, the research group evaluated whether the rates of infant mortality were higher than expected compared to estimates in two previous studies. In the other, the researchers compared the proportion of boys and girls taken to professional care when they were ill or had common childhood symptoms, such as diarrhea, fever, and suspected pneumonia.

The results show that one-third of the countries have excessive rates of female infant mortality. The countries of South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa concentrate this excess. In India, for example, there were 88.2 deaths per thousand girls born alive, which is 33% above the expected value if gender discrimination did not occur.

According to the analysis, girls are less likely than boys to be taken to a health professional in six countries - Colombia, Egypt, India, Liberia, Senegal and Yemen. Poor countries - with lower income per capita - and with predominance of the Muslim religion are those who present the greatest inequities in the search for health care for girls.

"Our study detects gender discrimination in the search for health care for girls. We also need to explore more deeply the elements present in each culture that can lead to these differences "concludes the author. The defense of the dissertation was held on November 21th, 2016, in the auditorium of the Epidemiological Research Center of the Federal University of Pelotas.