SDG5 “gender equality” and the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid assessment of health system responses in selected upper-middle and high-income countries

Kuhlmann, Ellen, Lotta, Gabriela, Fernandez, Michelle, Herten-Crabb, Asha ORCID: 0000-0003-1251-8109, Mac Fehr, Leonie, Maple, Jaimie Lee, Paina, Ligia, Wenham, Clare ORCID: 0000-0001-5378-3203 and Willis, Karen (2023) SDG5 “gender equality” and the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid assessment of health system responses in selected upper-middle and high-income countries. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. ISSN 2296-2565

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Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare and societies, exacerbating existing inequalities for women and girls across every sphere. Our study explores health system responses to gender equality goals during the COVID-19 pandemic and inclusion in future policies. Methods: We apply a qualitative comparative approach, drawing on secondary sources and expert information; the data was collected from March–July 2022. Australia, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the USA were selected, reflecting upper-middle and high-income countries with established public health and gender policies but different types of healthcare systems and epidemiological and geo-political conditions. Three sub-goals of SDG5 were analyzed: maternity care/reproductive health, gender-based violence, and gender equality/women's leadership. Results: We found similar trends across countries. Pandemic policies strongly cut into women's health, constrained prevention and support services, and weakened reproductive rights, while essential maternity care services were kept open. Intersecting gender inequalities were reinforced, sexual violence increased and women's leadership was weak. All healthcare systems failed to protect women's health and essential public health targets. Yet there were relevant differences in the responses to increased violence and reproductive rights, ranging from some support measures in Australia to an abortion ban in the US. Conclusions: Our study highlights a need for revising pandemic policies through a feminist lens.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2023 The Author(s).
Divisions:	Health Policy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman H Social Sciences
Date Deposited:	03 Mar 2023 12:30
Last Modified:	20 Dec 2024 00:47
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/118330

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