Policy areas
HEALTH
During the twentieth century, the world experienced a remarkable decrease in mortality. In the ECE region, the most spectacular increases in life expectancy had already taken place before 1950. Even so, in the second half of the century, a further 8 years were added to the region’s average life expectancy. In the ECE region, as in nearly all countries of the world, women tend to live longer than men, as their higher life expectancy at birth demonstrates. Infant and child mortality is also lower for girls than for boys and for most causes of death, rates are lower for women than men, often a great deal lower as in the case of lung cancer.
Because biology and physiology are two of the few ways in which men and women irrefutably differ, health policies and programmes are logical entry points for the integration of a gender perspective. At the same time, we know that health is not simply the lack of physical infirmity, nor is it a simple question of bodily parts and functions. It is a holistic state of well-being, and is thus profoundly influenced by psychological, economic, social and environmental factors. For this reason, an analysis of health must go beyond male and female bodies to the institutions, traditions and attitudes that play a crucial role in determining quality of care, and root causes of poor health.
The ultimate goal of addressing gender issues in the context of health is to close the gap between male and female life expectancy at birth, aiming for maximum life expectancy whereby both men and women can enjoy healthy and productive lives.
The following key issues illuminate some of the main gender concerns related to health.
This has important implications for the life expectancy of men and women, as well as disease patterns characterising women and men at different ages in their lives. | |
The interplay of factors such as gender roles and stereotypes, copying mechanisms of men and women and different exposure to risk factors are among the things affecting the health status of women and men. | |
Reproductive health implies that women and men are able to have safe sex life and that they have the right to decide if, when and how to reproduce. Access to contraceptives and protection from high-risk sexual behaviour are important factors in reproductive health, as well as the right of men and women to be informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice. | |
Although income is an important indicator of poverty, poverty has many dimensions that need to be considered in any attempt to alleviate it. One of these dimensions is health, with poor health being a cause, as well as an effect of poverty. | |
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