02655nas a2200289 4500000000100000008004100001653001100042653002900053653001100082653000900093653002300102653001600125653001100141653001700152100001300169700001400182700001200196700001400208700001500222700001500237245007600252856006200328300001200390490000700402520194200409022001402351 2016 d10aFemale10aHealth Services Research10aHumans10aMale10aPower (Psychology)10aSex Factors10aSexism10aSocial Norms1 aMorgan R1 aGeorge AS1 aSsali S1 aHawkins K1 aMolyneux S1 aTheobald S00aHow to do (or not to do)… gender analysis in health systems research. uhttps://academic.oup.com/heapol/article/31/8/1069/2198200 a1069-780 v313 a
Gender-the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for males, females and other genders-affects how people live, work and relate to each other at all levels, including in relation to the health system. Health systems research (HSR) aims to inform more strategic, effective and equitable health systems interventions, programs and policies; and the inclusion of gender analysis into HSR is a core part of that endeavour. We outline what gender analysis is and how gender analysis can be incorporated into HSR content, process and outcomes Starting with HSR content, i.e. the substantive focus of HSR, we recommend exploring whether and how gender power relations affect females and males in health systems through the use of sex disaggregated data, gender frameworks and questions. Sex disaggregation flags female-male differences or similarities that warrant further analysis; and further analysis is guided by gender frameworks and questions to understand how gender power relations are constituted and negotiated in health systems. Critical aspects of understanding gender power relations include examining who has what (access to resources); who does what (the division of labour and everyday practices); how values are defined (social norms) and who decides (rules and decision-making). Secondly, we examine gender in HSR process by reflecting on how the research process itself is imbued with power relations. We focus on data collection and analysis by reviewing who participates as respondents; when data is collected and where; who is present; who collects data and who analyses data. Thirdly, we consider gender and HSR outcomes by considering who is empowered and disempowered as a result of HSR, including the extent to which HSR outcomes progressively transform gender power relations in health systems, or at least do not further exacerbate them.
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