We analyse changes in gendered health differentials between 2005 and 2014, using data from
population-weighted General Household Surveys (GHS) in South Africa. We also assess
the contribution of observed characteristics in explaining those differentials. We find that
the gender gap in health narrowed by approximately 2% between 2005 and 2014, and the
narrowing of that gap can be mainly attributed to changes in educational attainment and
social grant receipt. Specifically, there has been a relative increase in receipt of formal
education by women, which explains about 1.11% of the gap reduction, while the relative
increase in social grant receipt by women explains approximately 28% of the reduction.
Thus, improvements in gender equality, as it relates to health, are furthered by policies
addressing inequality in educational attainment and social protection. However, about 76%
of the reduction is explained by changes in returns to various male/female attributes.