Gender differences in determinants and consequences of health and illness.
This paper uses a framework developed for gender and tropical diseases for the analysis of non-communicable diseases and conditions in developing and industrialized countries. The framework illustrates that gender interacts with the social, economic and biological determinants and consequences of tropical diseases to create different health outcomes for males and females. Whereas the framework was previously limited to developing countries where tropical infectious diseases are more prevalent, the present paper demonstrates that gender has an important effect on the determinants and consequences of health and illness in industrialized countries as well. This paper reviews a large number of studies on the interaction between gender and the determinants and consequences of chronic diseases and shows how these interactions result in different approaches to prevention, treatment, and coping with illness. Specific examples of chronic diseases are discussed in each section with respect to both developing and industrialized countries.
Vlassoff
Carol
C
Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada. vlassofc@gmail.com
D002908:Chronic Disease; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014330:Tropical Medicine