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Gender-related differences in the impact of tropical diseases on women: what do we know?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Carol Vlassoff
Affiliation:
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Elssy Bonilla
Affiliation:
Centro de Estudios sobre Desarrollo Economico, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.

Summary

This paper explores the importance of gender differences in the impact of tropical diseases on women. Malaria and schistosomiasis are used as examples but most of the observations also apply to other diseases endemic to developing countries. The distinction between sex and gender is discussed and evidence of sex and gender differences in the determinants and consequences of malaria and schistosomiasis, particularly their economic, social and personal dimensions, is reviewed. Issues on which research and intervention studies are needed are identified.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1994, Cambridge University Press

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