What is a gender-based approach to public health?
A gender-based approach to public health begins from the recognition of the differences between women and men. It helps us to identify the ways in which the health risks, experiences, and outcomes are different for women and men, boys and girls, and to act accordingly. In most societies, women have lower social status than men, producing unequal power relations. For example, women have lower status in families, communities and society: They have less access to and control over resources and they have less of a say in decision-making than men. These factors have led to a systematic devaluing and neglect of women’s health. In the past, work on women’s health was focused on the health problems of women during pregnancy and childbirth. A gender-based approach has broadened our understanding of women’s health problems and helped identify ways to address them for women of all ages. Cardiovascular disease, for example, is now known to be a major cause of death among women. However, this is no
