Recognizing the importance of understanding how gender power relations intersect with other social variables to create differences in health needs and experiences, TDR has published a new strategy for intersectional gender research.
Gender norms, roles and relations are all known to influence people’s susceptibility to different health conditions, particularly those associated with infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Sex and gender are key drivers of health outcomes, including through delivery and access to health products and services for the prevention and control of infectious diseases. The new strategy will ensure that TDR’s research programmes address these issues and emphasize gender as an entry point into a deeper intersectional analysis. Recognizing the importance of understanding how gender power relations intersect with other social variables to create differences in health needs and experiences, TDR has published a new strategy for intersectional gender research.
TDR Director John Reeder says, “Gender has always been a critical area for TDR and this is a very important step forward, shaping our work alongside the TDR strategy for 2018–2023. In particular, it will contribute to develop and implement effective strategies to prevent and control infectious diseases for everyone”.
It is important that all research that takes a gender lens explores how gender inequity is shaped by and interacts with other forms of inequity so that women, men, girls, boys, and people with non-binary identities are adequately treated within our research and interventions.- Mahendra Shrestha, Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal
Outlining TDR’s gender research strategic vision, the strategy document will guide strengthening to evidence generation and promotion of an inclusive research agenda.
Mariam Otmani del Barrio, the scientist leading TDR’s gender research efforts, says, “Gender research is not just about women as a homogeneous group. We are looking carefully at drivers of inequalities that affect the health of women,
and men, and people who do not necessarily fit into these binary identities”.
The strategy was developed by TDR in 2019 following an initial global expert consultation at the 1st TDR Expert Group Meeting on Gender and Intersectionality in Research on Infectious Diseases of Poverty, held in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2018, in which TDR and WHO staff also participated. This strategy is intended to be a living document, periodically reviewed and updated.
As well as guiding TDR’s work it is hoped that the strategy will inspire research partners in their efforts to combat infectious diseases of poverty.
For additional information, contact: Mariam Otmani del Barrio.