Disrupting gender norms in health systems: making the case for change

Abstract

ContributorsKH and AR led conceptualisation and drafting of the paper. AD led the study on nurses in Uttar Pradesh, ND the study on accredited social health activists in Uttar Pradesh, HW and JR the study on community health workers and community health worker policy in Sierra Leone, LM, JK, and AR the study on gender parity in the global physician workforce, and KH, YA, and NS the study on selfhelp groups in India. FS and RF-M led development of the case on the nurse from eSwatini. VP, RH, and EBa did the systematic literature review on health systems models. JGS and AR led the systematic review on gender transformative clinical interventions. KH, LM, JK, FS, RF-M, AD, YA, JY, EBl, NB, JGS, and AR did the critical reviews of the literature on gender inequalities and gender norms affecting health and helped draft pieces of those reviews, with consideration of diverse geographic contexts. All authors offered critical inputs and reviews of this work, contributed intellectual and substantive revisions to the writing, and provided final approval of the submitted version.

Social determinants of male partner involvement in women's Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission care Program in Malawi

“…In order to design effective intervention to improve male partner engagement, we have to recognise wider Malawian gender orders and gender norms around masculinities [54]. Such "restrictive gender norms" [55] and the wider societal inequality regimens [56] are reproduced in the healthcare systems [57] and may impact male partner engagement. As Hay K et al [55] showed that gender norms and inequities are determined and reinforced in families, communities, structures and policies and perpetuated by institutions including healthcare systems.…”

“…Such "restrictive gender norms" [55] and the wider societal inequality regimens [56] are reproduced in the healthcare systems [57] and may impact male partner engagement. As Hay K et al [55] showed that gender norms and inequities are determined and reinforced in families, communities, structures and policies and perpetuated by institutions including healthcare systems. Previous studies in Malawi suggest that gender norms and masculinities [41] are factors in access, attitudes and stigma [54,58].…”

“…Previous studies in Malawi suggest that gender norms and masculinities [41] are factors in access, attitudes and stigma [54,58]. Gender inequalities in health system could be disrupted "from within, through actions for reform and transformation, and from the outside, through progressive policies and laws and community pressure and activism" [55] involving a multi-disciplinary team of public health experts. Further studies to understand why and how men in Malawi become involved are required.…”

Fostering a Diverse Pool of Global Health Academic Leaders Through Mentorship and Career Path Planning

“…Specifically, emergency systems development, research, education, workforce growth, and sustainability can all serve to empower women by increasing access to resources, by strengthening women’s sense of agency and self‐efficacy, and by providing a means of achievement and advancement. Further, research suggests that confronting restrictive gender norms and inequities in health systems development, particularly in these early stages, can impact outcomes and community health more broadly …”

Applying a gender lens to global health and well-being: Framing a Journal of Global Health special collection

“…This special collection in the Journal of Global Health builds on the evidence base linking gender norms and health, presenting findings to advance our thinking about these interconnected systems [1,2,6,9,10]. The collection takes a general focus on three areas: (1) sexual and reproductive health, (2) adolescent populations, and (3) health policy.…”