Measuring Physician Bias: Institutional Discrimination and Health Inequities in India

Name of the Presenting Author: 
Shivani Yadav
Abstract Content (not more than 300 word, should include: Introduction, Objective, Methodology, critical findings & Conclusion): 
It's an ethical obligation for healthcare providers to treat all patients equally, akin to providing uniform care to everyone seeking healthcare. However, it is essential to acknowledge that healthcare providers, being human, can be influenced by societal biases. These biases, whether conscious or unconscious, can affect interactions within the healthcare sector, contributing to caste-based health disparities in India. This study examines explicit and implicit biases among healthcare professionals of various caste backgrounds and their impact on healthcare in India. Using survey instruments, the Implicit Association Test (IAT), and semi-structured interviews, we assessed the extent of bias among 106 healthcare providers—doctors, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists, and ward attendants—across the public healthcare system in Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh. Our analysis reveals significant negative caste biases among upper-caste professionals, affecting their professional conduct. Survey results and interviews highlight consciously adopted biases, evidenced in derogatory comments and casteist slurs used by non-Scheduled Caste (SC) providers. In contrast, SC providers display lower levels of bias and greater awareness of institutional discrimination's role in perpetuating health inequalities. Our study calls for an increasing participation of healthcare professionals from disadvantaged caste backgrounds to help mitigate biases and improve healthcare access and quality.

Abstract theme:

Do you require financial support to attend the seminar ? (Not applicable for virtual meet): 
Yes-full
Email of the Presenting Author: 
shivaniyadav@dtu.ac.in
Gender: 
Female
Mobile number of the Presenting Author: 
8860214758
Evaluation Status: 
No
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