Gender differentials in health related risks and outcomes are partly determined by biological sex differences. Yet they are also the result of how societies socialise women and men into gender roles. The paper draws together evidence that identifies and explains what gender inequality and inequity mean in terms of differential exposures and vulnerabilities for women versus men, and also how health care systems and health research reproduce these inequalities and inequities instead of resolving them.
Equity in Health
Gender inequity in health: why it exists and how we can change it
Sen G, Ostlin P, George A: Women and Gender Equity Knowledge Network, 2007
Research on Determinants of Health Equity
Global Forum for Health Research, 1 November 2007
The health disparities between rich and poor in the developing world are so stark that reforms premised on "equal access" are inadequate, declared Werner Christie, Counsellor, Science and Technology, Norwegian Embassy, People's Republic of China and former minister of health of Norway. To be most effective, policies should be based on "disparate access," said Christie, speaking at Forum 11, the annual meeting of the Global Forum for Health Research, which this year focuses on equitable access. Such an approach would grant priority to the disadvantaged people who need help most, he said.
UN poverty goals on health out of reach, WHO says
The World Health Organisation (WHO), 29 October 2007
The world is likely to fail to meet the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals related to health, the head of the World Health Organization said on Monday at a global forum on health research for poor nations. A rise in funding for research into communicable diseases has not been matched by the power of health systems to deliver, in part because of the failure of governments to invest in the sector, said Margaret Chan.
Equity in health and health care in Malawi: analysis and trends
Zere E, Moeti M, Jirigia J: BMC Public Health, 2007
This article in BMC public health assesses trends in inequities in health and health service utilisation in Malawi using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 1992, 2000, and 2004. The paper finds that there has been an increase in the levels of pro-rich inequity in infant and under-five mortality rates. This implies that the burden of infant and under-five mortality is getting disproportionately higher among children from the poor than the non-poor households. Inequalities are also observed in the use of interventions including treatment of diarrhoea. In addition, the paper finds that the publicly provided services for some of the selected interventions including child delivery, benefit the non-poor more than the poor.
The Interim Statement of the WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health
The Interim Statement sets out the Commission’s vision and goals, the problems it seeks to ameliorate, and the intellectual foundation for a social determinants approach. In doing so, the Interim Statement is a resource for stakeholders concerned with social determinants of health and health equity, as they build towards a global movement. Recommendations for action, based on the evidence gathered across all the Commission’s work streams, will be made in the Final Report in May 2008.
UN-backed global drive to slash maternal and child deaths kicks off
United Nations, World Health Organisation: 28 September 2007
From public rallies in various locations in New York to a meeting of women leaders at the United Nations, Governments and organisations are uniting to launch a new global and unprecedented drive today to slash maternal and child deaths. The "Deliver Now for Women + Children" initiative is a direct response to warnings by the UN that the world is lagging behind in achieving the Millennium Development Goals to cut maternal and child deaths by 2015.
Unequal, unfair, ineffective and inefficient gender Inequity in health: Why it exists and how we can change it - Final Report to the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health
Sen G, Östlin P: Women and Gender Equity Knowledge Network, September 2007
The authors describe how gender inequality damages the physical and mental health of millions of girls and women across the globe, and also of boys and men despite the many tangible benefits it gives men through resources, power, authority and control. Because of the numbers of people involved and the magnitude of the problems, taking action to improve gender equity in health and to address women’s rights to health is one of the most direct and potent ways to reduce health inequities and ensure effective use of health resources. The authors emphasise that deepening and consistently implementing human rights instruments can be a powerful mechanism to motivate and mobilize governments, people and especially women themselves.
International spread of disease threatens public health security: The World Health Report 2007 and a safer future
World Health Organisation (WHO), 23 August 2007
More than at any previous time in history, global public health security depends on international cooperation and the willingness of all countries to act effectively in tackling new and emerging threats. That is the clear message of this year's World health report entitled A safer future: global public health security in the 21st century, which concludes with six key recommendations to secure the highest level of global public health security.
EQUINET: Networking for equity in health in eastern and southern Africa
Loewenson R: Promotion and Education XIV(2): 105-106, 2007
This short paper outlines the perspectives and motivations for the work of the Regional Network for Equity in Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (EQUINET). It presents key areas of work on health equity being implemented to strengthen the state and public sector in health; organised around the active participation and involvement of communities. This includes work on strengthening people's power for health, on increased fair financing, on retaining health workers and challenging trade policies that encroach on health. Such work faces challenges that can be met through increased regional networking to exchange experience, information and expertise, particularly given the demand for learning by doing.
Global Equity Gauge Alliance
Ntuli A: Promotion and Education XIV (2): 107-108, 2007
The lack of attention to equity in health, health care and determinants of health is a burden to the attainment of good health in many countries. With this underlying problem as a basis, a series of meetings took place between 1999 and 2000, culminating in the creation of the Global Equity Gauge Alliance (GEGA). GEGA is an international network of groups in developing countries, mainly Asia, AFrica, and Latin America, which develop projects designed to confront and mitigate inequities in health, known as Equity Gauges. Equity Gauges aim to contribute towards the sustained decline in inequities in both the broad sociopolitical determinants of health, as well as inequities in health system. Their approach is based on three broad spheres of action, known as "pillars". Through a series of examples from local or national level gauges, this paper showcases their work promoting the interaction between research and evidence-based policy formulation and implementation, and the interaction between the community and policy makers.