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International Journal for Equity in Health
Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research

Gender inequalities in occupational health related to the unequal distribution of working and employment conditions: a systematic review

Authors: Javier Campos-Serna, Elena Ronda-Pérez, Lucia Artazcoz, Bente E Moen, Fernando G Benavides

Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Introduction

Gender inequalities exist in work life, but little is known about their presence in relation to factors examined in occupation health settings. The aim of this study was to identify and summarize the working and employment conditions described as determinants of gender inequalities in occupational health in studies related to occupational health published between 1999 and 2010.

Methods

A systematic literature review was undertaken of studies available in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Sociological Abstracts, LILACS, EconLit and CINAHL between 1999 and 2010. Epidemiologic studies were selected by applying a set of inclusion criteria to the title, abstract, and complete text. The quality of the studies was also assessed. Selected studies were qualitatively analysed, resulting in a compilation of all differences between women and men in the prevalence of exposure to working and employment conditions and work-related health problems as outcomes.

Results

Most of the 30 studies included were conducted in Europe (n=19) and had a cross-sectional design (n=24). The most common topic analysed was related to the exposure to work-related psychosocial hazards (n=8). Employed women had more job insecurity, lower control, worse contractual working conditions and poorer self-perceived physical and mental health than men did. Conversely, employed men had a higher degree of physically demanding work, lower support, higher levels of effort-reward imbalance, higher job status, were more exposed to noise and worked longer hours than women did.

Conclusions

This systematic review has identified a set of working and employment conditions as determinants of gender inequalities in occupational health from the occupational health literature. These results may be useful to policy makers seeking to reduce gender inequalities in occupational health, and to researchers wishing to analyse these determinants in greater depth.
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Metadata
Title
Gender inequalities in occupational health related to the unequal distribution of working and employment conditions: a systematic review
Authors
Javier Campos-Serna
Elena Ronda-Pérez
Lucia Artazcoz
Bente E Moen
Fernando G Benavides
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
International Journal for Equity in Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1475-9276
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-12-57

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