175322 Disparities in Women's Health: Common and Unique Issues Across the Globe

Monday, October 27, 2008: 10:30 AM

Shakeh J. Kaftarian, PhD , Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD
Chloe E. Bird, PhD , Health, RAND, Santa Monica, CA
Judy Norsigian, BA , Our Bodies Ourselves, Boston, MA
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.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session the audience will: •Identify the complex relationship between gender and health; •Recognize the interdisciplinary evidence for the constrained healthcare choices for women across cultures; and •Achieve an appreciation for gender sensitive research, practice and policies for health and healthcare.

Keywords: Women's Health, Women's Quality Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: the content of the presentation is centrally realted to my work at AHRQ/HHS.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.