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Have Policies Tackled Gender Inequalities in Health? A Scoping Review

Author

Listed:
  • Nuria Crespí-Lloréns

    (Preventive Medicine Service, Hospital General de Elche, 03203 Elche, Spain)

  • Ildefonso Hernández-Aguado

    (Department of Public Health, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, 03550 Alicante, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Elisa Chilet-Rosell

    (Department of Public Health, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, 03550 Alicante, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

Gender is recognized as one of the most relevant determinants of health inequalities. This scoping review sought to identify and analyse policies, either implemented or formulated as proposals, which aimed to reduce gender inequalities in health. We searched Medline, Web of Science, and Scielo. Of 2895 records, 91 full text articles were analysed, and 33 papers were included. Of these papers, 22 described the process of formulation, implementation, or evaluation of policies whose aim was to reduce gender inequalities in health; six focused on recommendations, and the remaining five dealt with both issues. Our review showed that the policies aimed at reducing gender inequalities in health, either implemented or formulated as proposals, are scarce. Moreover, despite some success, overall progress has been slow. The studies show failures in design and particularly in the implementation process. We found a lack of awareness and capacity in the policy-making progress, under-financing, bureaucratization, shortage of relevant data, and absence of women’s participation in decision-making. Therefore, an emphasis on the design and implementation of gender-sensitive policies seems essential to advance gender equality in health. This scoping review gathers evidence to support the design of such policies and recommendations that can facilitate their implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Nuria Crespí-Lloréns & Ildefonso Hernández-Aguado & Elisa Chilet-Rosell, 2021. "Have Policies Tackled Gender Inequalities in Health? A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:1:p:327-:d:474766
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gita Sen & Avanti Mukherjee, 2014. "No Empowerment without Rights, No Rights without Politics: Gender-equality, MDGs and the post-2015 Development Agenda," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(2-3), pages 188-202, July.
    2. Pau Baizan & Bruno Arpino & Carlos Eric Delclòs, 2016. "The Effect of Gender Policies on Fertility: The Moderating Role of Education and Normative Context," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 32(1), pages 1-30, February.
    3. Jonsson, Pia Maria & Schmidt, Ingrid & Sparring, Vibeke & Tomson, Goran, 2006. "Gender equity in health care in Sweden--Minor improvements since the 1990s," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(1), pages 24-36, June.
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