Gender Equality and Health in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Within-Country Indicators of Gender Equality in Relation to Health Outcomes.

Anna J. Scovelle,Adrienne O'Neil,Guyonne Kalb,Tania L. King,Anne Kavanagh,Allison Milner,Belinda Hewitt

doi:10.1089/whr.2020.0114

Anna J. Scovelle, Adrienne O'Neil + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1089/whr.2020.0114

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Abstract

Background: Gender equality is recognized as an important political, social, and economic goal in many countries around the world. At a country level, there is evidence that gender equality may have an important influence on health. Historically gender equality has mainly been measured to allow for between-country, rather than within-country comparisons; and the association between gender equality and health outcomes within countries has been under-researched. This article thus aimed to systematically review within-country indicators of gender equality in public health studies and assess the extent to which these are related to health outcomes.Materials and Methods: We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach with two independent reviewers.Results: Data from the eight included studies revealed that there was heterogeneity in the way gender equality has been measured as a multidimensional construct. Associations between gender equality and a number of different health outcomes were apparent, including mortality, mental health, morbidity, alcohol consumption, and intimate partner violence, with gender equality mostly associated with better health outcomes.Conclusions: Further investigation into the effects of gender equality on health outcomes, including a clear conceptualization of terms, is critical for the development of policies and programs regarding gender equality.

Highlights

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes gender as a key driver of inequalities in living conditions and, by extension, health.1 ‘‘Gender equality’’ refers to the entitlement of all genders to enjoy equal rights, opportunities, and treatment
There is evidence that gender equality has an important influence on health,[5] and some claim that gender inequality represents one of the most significant threats to global health.[6]
Given the impetus underscored by the aforementioned points, the objectives of this article were first, to systematically review within-country multidimensional indicators of gender equality that have been used as exposures in public health studies in high-income countries, and second, to assess the extent to which these are related to health outcomes

Summary

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes gender as a key driver of inequalities in living conditions and, by extension, health.1 ‘‘Gender equality’’ refers to the entitlement of all genders to enjoy equal rights, opportunities, and treatment. Acknowledging that men and women are not the same, gender equality asserts that all genders have the right to develop and pursue their interests free of discrimination, stereotypes, and biases.[2] Progressing gender equality is recognized as an important political, social, and economic goal in many countries around the world.[3,4] there is evidence that gender equality has an important influence on health,[5] and some claim that gender inequality represents one of the most significant threats to global health.[6]. Gender equality is recognized as an important political, social, and economic goal in many countries around the world. This article aimed to systematically review within-country indicators of gender equality in public health studies and assess the extent to which these are related to health outcomes. Conclusions: Further investigation into the effects of gender equality on health outcomes, including a clear conceptualization of terms, is critical for the development of policies and programs regarding gender equality

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