Lahore: Fewer than three in ten ever-married women in Punjab have the autonomy to visit a doctor within their community without accompaniment, according to a new report. The Punjab Health and Population Survey (PHPS) 2024-25 Baseline Survey Report reveals that only 28.2% of ever-married women can independently access healthcare within their community, with this figure dropping to 19.9% for visits outside their community.

According to Gilani Research Foundation, the survey, which gathered data from 19,534 ever-married women aged 15-49 across 36 districts in Punjab, highlights the limited mobility experienced by women in the province. The findings indicate that approximately two-thirds of women require permission or accompaniment to move within their community, with the figure rising to more than three-quarters for destinations outside of their community.

Gallup Pakistan, through its PHPS Digital Analytics dashboard, provided a detailed district-level and education-level analysis. The data shows a significant disparity in independent mobility across different districts, with Pakpattan reporting the highest rate of women visiting health facilities independently at 46.1%, compared to Muzaffargarh, which reported the lowest at 10.2%. The analysis also reveals that a woman’s level of education does not correlate with increased solo mobility, as higher education levels are associated with decreased independent movement.

The survey further demonstrates that the strongest factor influencing a woman’s ability to move independently is the distance of travel rather than whether she resides in an urban or rural area. The report emphasizes that similar mobility constraints exist in both urban and rural settings, suggesting that cultural norms rather than infrastructure are the primary constraints.

This study sheds light on the challenges faced by women in Punjab in accessing healthcare and other essential services independently. The findings underscore the need for policymakers to address these mobility barriers and consider cultural norms and district-level variations when designing interventions to enhance women’s autonomy in the region.