Gender significantly impacts health outcomes, influencing lifestyle, well-being, and healthcare access throughout a person's life. Bridging gender gaps in health can enhance human capital and ensure equitable health opportunities for all sexes. Achieving gender equity in health necessitates a systematic approach across health systems, with universal health coverage (UHC) and integrated primary health care (PHC) services providing a crucial platform. Five priority investment areas are highlighted: comprehensive sexual, reproductive, adolescent, and maternal health services; healthcare coverage for older adults; gender equality in health leadership; mental health coverage under UHC; and reducing gender disparities in pandemic preparedness and emergency response. These investments can empower women, girls, and other gender identities, support healthy aging, improve mental health access, and ensure effective health leadership and pandemic response.
Authors
Altuwaijri, Sameera, Saadat,Seemeen, Boudjadja,Meriem, Nielsen,Charlotte Pram, Gordillo-Tobar,Amparo Elena, Maruo,Mirai, Rakh, Priyadarshani
- Disclosure Date
- 2024/06/17
- Disclosure Status
- Disclosed
- Doc Name
- Achieving Gender Equity in Health : Key Areas of Focus Under Universal Health Coverage
- Published in
- United States of America
- Series Name
- World Bank Gender Thematic Policy Notes Series;
- Unit Owning
- HNP Global (HHNGE)
- Version Type
- Final
- Volume No
- 1
Table of Contents
- Table of Contents 2
- Introduction 3
- Gender and the health systems framework 4
- Figure 1: Health Systems Flagship Framework 5
- The role of the private sector in health systems 5
- Priority Areas for Health and Gender Equity under UHC 6
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights 6
- Healthy aging and access to health for older women 8
- Figure 2: Proportion of Female to Male Population 9
- Box 1: Digital Technology Innovations Bring Services Cloer to People 10
- Supporting women’s participation in health leadership for gender equality 0
- Figure 3: Women's Limited Leadership in Health 12
- Box 2: Women's Employment Program 13
- Addressing gender differentials in mental health 14
- Figure 4: Prevalence of Major Depressive Disorders by Sex 14
- Box 3: The Health Sectpr Response to Gender-based Violence 15
- Figure 5: Impact of Covid-19 on Mental Health in the United Kingdom 16
- Figure 6a: Prevalence of Self-harm by sex 16
- Figure 6b: Deaths due self-harm by sex 17
- Enhancing gender equity in pandemic preparedness and emergency response in health 17
- Figure 7: Impact of Covid-19 on Women and Girls' health 18
- Box 4: The gender effect on the growing threat posed by anti-microbial resistance 19
- Proposed Actions toward Gender Responsive and Transformative Policies and Programs 20
- Strengthening sexual and reproductive health care and rights 20
- Promoting gender equity in health for aging populations 21
- Supporting gender equality in health care leadership 21
- Improving access to mental health services 21
- Ensuring gender-responsive pandemic preparedness 22
- References 23
