Health
Experts Link Gender Inequality, GBV To Rising Antimicrobial Resistance
By Folasade Akpan
Global health experts say gender inequality and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) are key drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), worsening infections and limiting women’s access to timely diagnosis, treatment and appropriate healthcare services worldwide.
They spoke during a webinar themed “Antimicrobial Resistance under Gender Lens,” which examined how gender norms influenced infection risks, antibiotic use, treatment outcomes and healthcare access for women globally.
The experts said that AMR was driven by misuse and overuse of medicines across human health, livestock, agriculture and the environment, warning that inequality worsened infection risks.
They warned that biological, social, cultural and economic factors rooted in gender inequality shaped infection prevention, healthcare access and antibiotic use, particularly among women in vulnerable communities.
According to Soumya Swaminathan, former Deputy Director-General for Programmes and Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization, tackling GBV is critical to reducing antimicrobial resistance globally.
“We cannot be successful in reducing or preventing AMR without tackling GBV, as violence impacts the access of women to healthcare,” she said during the webinar.
Swaminathan said women faced high risks of intimate partner or domestic violence, increasing infection risks and delaying treatment, particularly when injuries or infections remained untreated for long periods.
“Due to their position within the household and community, they are less likely to seek timely and adequate care for these injuries or infections, which could lead to drug-resistant infections.
“Whether it is sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections, reproductive tract infections or pelvic inflammatory disease, all are linked with sexual violence and increased antibiotic use.”
She said that even when women sought care, follow-up was often poor as some took partial antibiotic courses or wrong doses, which increased the likelihood of antimicrobial resistance.
She added that women facing unplanned pregnancies who resort to unsafe abortions were also at higher risk of infections that could contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
Bhakti Chavan, a survivor of extensively drug-resistant Tuberculosis (TB), said stigma also forced many women to hide illnesses and delay seeking proper diagnosis or treatment.
“Diseases like TB or HIV/AIDS carry a huge stigma in our society especially for the women.
“In many communities a woman diagnosed with TB or HIV is judged not only as a patient but as someone who has brought shame to the family.
“Her character, marriage prospects and even her ability to be a good wife, daughter or mother are questioned.”
According to him, many women hide their illnesses due to stigma, delaying testing, avoiding clinics, secretly taking medicines or stopping treatment early to prevent others from discovering their condition.
Chavan, however, stressed that AMR was not gender neutral and required policies that recognised the specific realities women face in accessing healthcare and treatment.
“If we want to fight AMR effectively, we must listen to women, diagnose them early, ensure proper treatment, support adherence and design policies that consider women’s realities,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr Esmita Charani, Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, said unequal power relations influenced healthcare decisions, antibiotic access and treatment outcomes in many societies.
According to her, the burden of disease remains highest among populations with the least access to healthcare resources, including essential medicines such as antibiotics.
She added that the power differential between patients and healthcare providers remained strong and was often shaped by social norms, including gender roles and expectations.
“Women often have the least power to negotiate or advocate for themselves within healthcare settings,” she said.
Charani said women frequently prioritised the health of family members over their own and often took on unrecognised caregiving roles within households and communities.
“In hospitals in India, women often came as carers for family members rather than seeking care themselves.
“When healthcare spending is out-of-pocket, male family members may be prioritised over female family members,” she said.
She called for an intersectional approach to addressing antimicrobial resistance that considered multiple social factors shaping healthcare access and health outcomes.
“We need an intersectional lens because our position within society and families depends on gender, religion, culture, migration status, race and identity,” she said.
Dr Deepshikha Bhateja, Principal Research Scientist at the Indian School of Business, said social norms around menstruation, caregiving and financial control often restrict women’s access to healthcare.
She said these norms also reduce education, awareness and access to water, sanitation and hygiene, increasing infection risks and limiting timely access to antibiotics.
Also speaking, Dr Mayssam Akroush, Founding President of the Pan Arab Women Physicians Association, said women should lead campaigns against irrational antibiotic use.
She said educating women on appropriate antibiotic use could influence entire households and communities because of the multiple roles women play in society.
“She should be the targeted person in our campaigns where we educate women and get a whole population educated on how and when to use antibiotics.”
The experts urged countries to integrate gender indicators into national AMR action plans and include GBV indicators in antimicrobial resistance response strategies.(NAN)(www.nanews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
