Gender as a health determinant and implications for health education.
Gender is a health determinant, but gender itself is influenced, in part, by biological and psychological variables. Understanding gender's influence on health therefore requires an understanding of the determinants of the construct gender. A review of certain gender determinants is presented. The authors consider the modifiability of these determinants and present recommendations about which of these determinants should be targeted for health promotion and policy creation activities. In concluding, they argue that gender is a multidetermined construct that encompasses many factors that may be modifiable through intervention, and consideration of all of these factors should be vigorously pursued.
Davidson
Karina W
KW
Behavioral, Cardiovascular Health & Hypertension Program, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Trudeau
Kimberlee J
KJ
van Roosmalen
Erica
E
Stewart
Miriam
M
Kirkland
Susan
S
D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics