Exploring the role of gender and women in the political economy of health in armed conflict: a narrative review

Kristen Meagher,Preeti Patel,Bothaina Attal

doi:10.1186/s12992-021-00738-9

Kristen Meagher, Preeti Patel + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00738-9

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Abstract

BackgroundThe ripple effects of protracted armed conflicts include: significant gender-specific barriers to accessing essential services such as health, education, water and sanitation and broader macroeconomic challenges such as increased poverty rates, higher debt burdens, and deteriorating employment prospects. These factors influence the wider social and political determinants of health for women and a gendered analysis of the political economy of health in conflict may support strengthening health systems during conflict. This will in turn lead to equality and equity across not only health, but broader sectors and systems, that contribute to sustainable peace building.MethodsThe methodology employed is a multidisciplinary narrative review of the published and grey literature on women and gender in the political economy of health in conflict.ResultsThe existing literature that contributes to the emerging area on the political economy of health in conflict has overlooked gender and specifically the role of women as a critical component. Gender analysis is incorporated into existing post-conflict health systems research, but this does not extend to countries actively affected by armed conflict and humanitarian crises. The analysis also tends to ignore the socially constructed patriarchal systems, power relations and gender norms that often lead to vastly different health system needs, experiences and health outcomes.ConclusionsDetailed case studies on the gendered political economy of health in countries impacted by complex protracted conflict will support efforts to improve health equity and understanding of gender relations that support health systems strengthening.

Highlights

The larger the gender gap, defined as the differences in experiences and opportunities between men and women, the more likely a country is to be involved in violent conflict [1, 2]
Four broad areas emerged from a mixture of theoretical and empirical research: definitions and content of a gendered political economy and why it is important in health and conflict; the widespread health and non-health effects of armed conflict on women; the importance and lessons from work on gendered health systems in conflict and fragile contexts; and lastly, the relation between gender equality and sustainable peace
Applying a gendered political economy framework to conflict Within the broader disciplines of political economy and related feminist theories, there are several theoretical frameworks which are useful for understanding what political economy of health in conflict means, how gender fits into this and why it is important in strengthening public systems in conflict and advancing policy reform that supports peacebuilding initiatives [23]

Summary

Introduction

The larger the gender gap, defined as the differences in experiences and opportunities between men and women, the more likely a country is to be involved in violent conflict [1, 2]. The ripple effects of protracted armed conflicts include: significant gender-specific barriers to accessing essential services such as health, education, water and sanitation and broader macroeconomic challenges such as increased poverty rates, higher debt burdens, and deteriorating employment prospects. These factors influence the wider social and political determinants of health for women and a gendered analysis of the political economy of health in conflict may support strengthening health systems during conflict. This will in turn lead to equality and equity across health, but broader sectors and systems, that contribute to sustainable peace building

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