Mainstreaming gender perspective in the national health programmes: The challenges ahead

Abstract

Poverty and ill health affect both men and women. However, the problems get compounded for women for many reasons like lack of resources, decision-making, etc. While men have higher rates of disease morbidity for major diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and others; a large proportion of women die due to the fact that they are brought for diagnosis and treatment at severe or last stages. The differences between female and male prevalence and incidence rates are difficult to measure since cases in women are more likely to be undetected especially for diseases like leprosy Social insurance schemes usually implicitly exclude many women who work at home or in the informal sector. Despite expression of concern by policy makers/gender specialists, the situation of women is not accurately reflected in routinely collected health statistics. A major thrust of many national and international goals is now on achieving equity in terms of health goals for both the sexes while simultaneously decreasing the gender disparities between indicators like health, education, etc. Any project intervention can both reinforce the existing gender roles, stereotypes and thus, not affect the developmental goals or promote gender equity into positive developmental outcomes. This paper examines some of the National Health Programmes and the gender component associated with these programmes. It also suggests some approaches for analysis of gender aspects into the activities and interventions for any programme/project.