Disparities in Women's Health: Common and Unique Issues Across the Globe

Researchers, providers and policy makers seek to understand how choices of individuals, communities and governments contribute to the health of women across the globe. In the past, international research studies on gender and health have focused on either women or men, and have used social or biological factors as explanatory frameworks. However, recent studies have been measuring the impact of a combination of social, cultural, environmental and political factors on women's health, with attention to concomitant personal behaviors and choices. In this session we will explore the conceptual and physical barriers to healthcare for women across cultures, and will: 1) provide a broad analysis of the complex relationship between gender and health; 2) reflect on the biology, social policies, cultural norms, political motivations, personal decisions, and the collective implications of these factors for women's health; 3) present a synthesis of interdisciplinary evidence for constrained healthcare choices across several countries (e.g., US, Armenia, Israel, Nepal, Senegal and West Bengal); and 4) evaluate some common/unique issues (e.g., poor access to information and resources, blatant forms of discrimination, and violence) which contribute further to poor health of women, and should be viewed as a violation of basic human rights.