In a world where global health is constantly evolving, it is essential to consider gender aspects in care provided and decision-making. On this World Day for Social Justice, which took place on February 20, it is important to emphasize that gender justice is the basis of health justice, itself a driver of social justice. Are we sufficiently engaged in these first two spaces to win the fight that awaits us in the third?
It is undeniable that the simple fact of being a woman has profound consequences on health, outside of periods of pregnancy and childbirth. In South Africa, as elsewhere in the world, power dynamics, status and gendered social roles are fundamental to women’s health-seeking behavior, their experience of care and health outcomes. Before even reaching a health facility, elements such as education, economic power and traditional roles make it likely that a woman will have avoided essential care that she should have received earlier in her life. health pathway, leading to late diagnosis.
Bias is also pervasive in clinical care, leading to knowledge gaps about the presentation and treatment of conditions in women compared to men, as healthcare professionals, regardless of gender, are more familiar with the condition. how symptoms manifest in men and treatment protocols for the male body.
Furthermore, when it comes to medical research, scientific bias towards men is such that research on women’s health is virtually neglected. This manifests itself alarmingly in the severe abuse and neglect of women at every stage of the healthcare system, due to the dismissal of their concerns. A telling example is medical studies on the impact of male partners of women suffering from endometriosis, a debilitating gynecological condition that is often misdiagnosed.
Research funds should be allocated to improve the diagnosis and treatment of people with endometriosis. The outrage sparked by studies that prio