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What do we know from the impact of gender on the COVID-19 pandemic?

Los brotes de enfermedades afectan a mujeres y hombres de manera diferente y, a menudo, empeoran las desigualdades existentes para las mujeres y las niñas, como destaca un informe publicado por el Fondo de Población de las Naciones Unidas (UNFPA). En los países con sistemas de salud y protección social más debilitados, y un peso mayor de la economía informal, estas situaciones de vulnerabilidad se ven agravadas. Durante el reciente brote de ébola en África occidental (2014–2016), por ejemplo, el papel predominante de las mujeres como cuidadoras dentro del entorno familiar y trabajadoras de atención sanitaria de primera línea, las expuso de manera desproporcionada al virus…

Sheila Fernández-Luis, Elena Marbán Castro, Leire Pajín Iraola, Belén Saavedra Cervera y Sara M. Soto González (2020). ¿Qué sabemos del impacto de género en la pandemia de la COVID-19? ISGlobal.

Disease outbreaks affect women and men differently and often worsen existing inequalities for women and girls. In countries with weaker social protection and health systems, where the informal sector accounts for a larger share of the overall economy, these situations of vulnerability are exacerbated. For example, during the recent Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa (2014-2016), the predominant role of women as caregivers within the family and as frontline health care workers disproportionately exposed them to the virus. Women also suffered indirect consequences of the epidemic, including increased maternal and neonatal mortality. During the 2015-2017 Zika epidemic in Latin America, the direct relationship between the virus and congenital malformations and other pregnancy-related problems was compounded by neglect of women’s sexual and reproductive health needs.

Sheila Fernández-Luis, Elena Marbán Castro, Leire Pajín Iraola, Belén Saavedra Cervera and Sara M. Soto González (2020). What Do We Know About the Impact of Gender on the COVID-19 Pandemic? ISGlobal.

Gender Working Group

We meet online every month to discuss key issues, activities, opportunities and ideas for collaboration. We have a long and growing list of resources on gender and public health emergencies.

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Gender Working Group

We meet online every month to discuss key issues, activities, opportunities and ideas for collaboration. We have a long and growing list of resources on gender and public health emergencies.

JOIN US >

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