Gender equality in science, medicine, and global health: where are we at and why does it matter?

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Abstract

<p class="first" id="d10835943e155">The purpose of this Review is to provide evidence for why gender equality in science, medicine, and global health matters for health and health-related outcomes. We present a high-level synthesis of global gender data, summarise progress towards gender equality in science, medicine, and global health, review the evidence for why gender equality in these fields matters in terms of health and social outcomes, and reflect on strategies to promote change. Notwithstanding the evolving landscape of global gender data, the overall pattern of gender equality for women in science, medicine, and global health is one of mixed gains and persistent challenges. Gender equality in science, medicine, and global health has the potential to lead to substantial health, social, and economic gains. Positioned within an evolving landscape of gender activism and evidence, our Review highlights missed and future opportunities, as well as the need to draw upon contemporary social movements to advance the field. </p>

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Most cited references 65

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Constructions of masculinity and their influence on men's well-being: a theory of gender and health

Will H. Courtenay (2000)

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Global health burden and needs of transgender populations: a review

Sari Reisner, Tonia Poteat, JoAnne Keatley … (2016)

Transgender people are a diverse population affected by a variety of negative health indicators across high, middle, and low income settings. Studies consistently document high prevalence of adverse health outcomes in this population, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mental health distress, and substance use and abuse. However, many other health areas remain understudied, population-based representative samples and longitudinal studies are lacking, and routine surveillance efforts for transgender population health are scarce. The absence of survey items with which to identify transgender respondents in general surveys often limits availability of data to estimate the magnitude of health inequities and characterize transgender population-level health globally. Despite limitations, there are sufficient data highlighting the unique biological, behavioral, social, and structural contextual factors surrounding health risks and resiliencies for transgender people. To mitigate these risks and foster resilience, a comprehensive approach is needed that includes gender affirmation as a public health framework, improved health systems and access to healthcare informed by high quality data, and effectively partnering with local transgender communities to ensure responsiveness of and cultural specificity in programming. Transgender health underscores the need to explicitly consider sex and gender pathways in epidemiologic research and public health surveillance more broadly.

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Prevalence of intimate partner violence: findings from the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence.

Claudia Garcia-Moreno, Henrica Jansen, Mary Ellsberg … (2006)

Violence against women is a serious human rights abuse and public health issue. Despite growing evidence of the size of the problem, current evidence comes largely from industrialised settings, and methodological differences limit the extent to which comparisons can be made between studies. We aimed to estimate the extent of physical and sexual intimate partner violence against women in 15 sites in ten countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, Japan, Namibia, Peru, Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, Thailand, and the United Republic of Tanzania. Standardised population-based household surveys were done between 2000 and 2003. Women aged 15-49 years were interviewed and those who had ever had a male partner were asked in private about their experiences of physically and sexually violent and emotionally abusive acts. 24,097 women completed interviews, with around 1500 interviews per site. The reported lifetime prevalence of physical or sexual partner violence, or both, varied from 15% to 71%, with two sites having a prevalence of less than 25%, seven between 25% and 50%, and six between 50% and 75%. Between 4% and 54% of respondents reported physical or sexual partner violence, or both, in the past year. Men who were more controlling were more likely to be violent against their partners. In all but one setting women were at far greater risk of physical or sexual violence by a partner than from violence by other people. The findings confirm that physical and sexual partner violence against women is widespread. The variation in prevalence within and between settings highlights that this violence in not inevitable, and must be addressed.

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Author and article information

Journal

Title: The Lancet

Abbreviated Title: The Lancet

Publisher: Elsevier BV

ISSN (Print): 01406736

Publication date Created: February 2019

Publication date (Print): February 2019

Volume: 393

Issue: 10171

Pages: 560-569

Article

DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)33135-0

PubMed ID: 30739691

SO-VID: 38b80e51-6f23-4170-b436-eea479933863

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https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/

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