Title
Monitoring gender equity in health using gender-sensitive indicators: A cross-national study
Date Issued
01 January 2011
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Diaz-Granados N.
Pitzul K.B.
Dorado L.M.
Wang F.
McDermott S.
Rondon M.B.
Posada-Villa J.
Torres Y.
Meules M.D.
Stewart D.E.
Publisher(s)
Mary Ann Liebert
Abstract
Background: As gender is known to be a major determinant of health, monitoring gender equity in health systems remains a vital public health priority. Focusing on a low-income (Peru), middle-income (Colombia), and high-income (Canada) country in the Americas, this study aimed to (1) identify and select gender-sensitive health indicators and (2) assess the feasibility of measuring and comparing gender-sensitive health indicators among countries. Methods: Gender-sensitive health indicators were selected by a multidisciplinary group of experts from each country. The most recent gender-sensitive health measures corresponding to selected indicators were identified through electronic databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, LIPECS, Latindex, and BIREME) and expert consultation. Data from population-based studies were analyzed when indicator information was unavailable from reports. Results: Twelve of the 17 selected gender-sensitive health indicators were feasible to measure in at least two countries, and 9 of these were comparable among all countries. Indicators that were available were not stratified or adjusted by age, education, marital status, or wealth. The largest between-country difference was maternal mortality, and the largest gender inequity was mortality from homicides. Conclusions: This study shows that gender inequities in health exist in all countries, regardless of income level. Economic development seemed to confer advantages in the availability of such indicators; however, this finding was not consistent and needs to be further explored. Future initiatives should include identifying health system factors and risk factors associated with disparities as well as assessing the cost-effectiveness of including the routine monitoring of gender inequities in health. © 2011, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Start page
145
End page
153
Volume
20
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Psiquiatría
Salud pública, Salud ambiental
Psicología (incluye relaciones hombre-máquina)
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-79251506069
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of Women's Health
ISSN of the container
15409996
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus