Prathibha Varkey1, Sarah Kureshi, Timothy Lesnick. 1. Division of Preventive, Occupational and Aerospace Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. varkey.prathibha@mayo.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Empowerment and opportunities to experience power and control in one's life contribute to health and wellness. Although studies have assessed specific factors related to women's empowerment and their influence on health outcomes, there is a dearth of published literature assessing the relationship of the empowerment of women with the overall health of a community. By means of this article, we aim to assess the relationship of women's empowerment with health in 75 countries. METHODS: We used the gender empowerment measure (GEM), a composite index measuring gender inequality in economic participation and decision making, political participation and decision making, and power over economic resources. All 75 countries with GEM values in the 2006 Human Development Report (HDR) were included in the study. Association between the GEM values and seven health indicators was evaluated using descriptive statistics, scatter plots, and simple and multiple linear regression models. We also controlled for gross domestic product (GDP) as a possible confounding factor and included this variable in the multiple regression models. RESULTS: When GDP was not considered, GEM had a statistically significant association with all health indicator variables except for proportion of 1-year-olds immunized against measles (correlation coefficient 0.063, p = 0.597). After adjusting for GDP, GEM was significantly associated with low birth weight, fertility rate, infant mortality, and age <or=5 mortality; the strongest correlation was found to be between GEM and infant mortality (R(2) = 0.601). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the empowerment of women is associated with several key health indicators at a national level. Further research is necessary to determine the cause-effect relationship of these factors, confounding factors that may influence the relationship, and specific aspects of empowerment of women that effectively influence the health of the larger community.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Empowerment and opportunities to experience power and control in one's life contribute to health and wellness. Although studies have assessed specific factors related to women's empowerment and their influence on health outcomes, there is a dearth of published literature assessing the relationship of the empowerment of women with the overall health of a community. By means of this article, we aim to assess the relationship of women's empowerment with health in 75 countries. METHODS: We used the gender empowerment measure (GEM), a composite index measuring gender inequality in economic participation and decision making, political participation and decision making, and power over economic resources. All 75 countries with GEM values in the 2006 Human Development Report (HDR) were included in the study. Association between the GEM values and seven health indicators was evaluated using descriptive statistics, scatter plots, and simple and multiple linear regression models. We also controlled for gross domestic product (GDP) as a possible confounding factor and included this variable in the multiple regression models. RESULTS: When GDP was not considered, GEM had a statistically significant association with all health indicator variables except for proportion of 1-year-olds immunized against measles (correlation coefficient 0.063, p = 0.597). After adjusting for GDP, GEM was significantly associated with low birth weight, fertility rate, infant mortality, and age <or=5 mortality; the strongest correlation was found to be between GEM and infant mortality (R(2) = 0.601). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the empowerment of women is associated with several key health indicators at a national level. Further research is necessary to determine the cause-effect relationship of these factors, confounding factors that may influence the relationship, and specific aspects of empowerment of women that effectively influence the health of the larger community.
Authors: Marina Bosque-Prous; Albert Espelt; Carme Borrell; Montse Bartroli; Anna M Guitart; Joan R Villalbí; M Teresa Brugal Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2015-01-22 Impact factor: 3.367
Authors: Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh; Lyn Francis; Mhiret Ayele; Sintayehu Abebe; Misrak Makonnen; Virginia Stulz Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-18 Impact factor: 3.390