Gender and One Health

Introduction

Gender and One Health is an interdisciplinary concept that integrates gender perspectives into the One Health approach, which links the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems. It recognizes that gender roles, social norms, and power relations influence exposure to health risks, access to resources, and participation in decision-making across health sectors. Incorporating gender into One Health frameworks promotes more equitable and effective responses to zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental change. International organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have called for gender-responsive One Health strategies to improve global health outcomes and sustainability.

Background

The One Health approach promotes collaboration among human, animal, and environmental health disciplines to address complex global challenges such as zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change. It seeks to sustainably balance the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. Historically, One Health efforts have focused on scientific and technical collaboration while paying less attention to social and gender dimensions. In recent years, international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have emphasized gender equity in One Health governance. The Quadripartite Joint Plan of Action (2022–2026) identifies gender responsiveness as a key principle for achieving sustainable health outcomes.

Gender Roles and Health Risks

Gender roles and social norms influence how individuals interact with animals, the environment, and health systems, thereby shaping patterns of exposure and vulnerability to disease. In many rural and agricultural communities, women are often responsible for animal care, milking, food preparation, and water collection. These roles may increase their contact with zoonotic pathogens such as Brucella, Leptospira, and avian influenza viruses. In contrast, men are more likely to engage in hunting, slaughtering, and livestock trading, which expose them to bloodborne and respiratory infections. Gender differences also affect environmental and occupational risks. For example, women farmers may face higher pesticide exposure during agricultural work but have less access to protective equipment, while men working in forested or wildlife-contact professions may encounter vector-borne or emerging zoonoses. In some settings, social expectations and household labor patterns limit women’s ability to seek medical attention for animal-related injuries or infections, increasing their risk of untreated illness. Intersectional factors such as age, income, and ethnicity can further compound these risks. Studies from sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia have shown that women-headed households have less access to vaccines for livestock and fewer opportunities to participate in zoonotic disease control programs. Recognizing these disparities is essential for designing interventions that reflect local gender dynamics and improve overall health outcomes.

Access to Services and Decision-Making

Gender disparities extend beyond exposure risk to include differences in access to health, veterinary, and agricultural services. Women and marginalized genders often have less control over financial resources, land, and livestock ownership, which limits their eligibility for government or extension programs that distribute vaccines, training, or disease surveillance support. Cultural norms in some regions restrict women’s mobility or public participation, preventing them from attending community health meetings or interacting with male veterinarians and agricultural officers. Educational gaps also influence access to information. Literacy and numeracy barriers can prevent women from understanding disease prevention materials, reporting outbreaks, or adopting new animal management practices. Studies have found that when women receive targeted outreach and training, overall household adoption of preventive health practices increases significantly. Decision-making disparities within health and agricultural institutions further limit gender equity. Women are underrepresented in veterinary and environmental sciences, as well as in One Health policy and research positions. In many countries, women make up less than 25% of the veterinary workforce and occupy an even smaller proportion of senior management roles. Promoting gender equity in these sectors is viewed as essential for improving the inclusivity and sustainability of health systems.

Policy and Global Frameworks

Efforts to integrate gender into One Health policy have gained momentum within international organizations and national governments. The Quadripartite Joint Plan of Action (2022–2026) developed by the WHO, FAO, WOAH, and UNEP emphasizes gender equality as a cross-cutting principle in addressing zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and ecosystem health. The plan encourages member states to collect sex-disaggregated data, include women in decision-making processes, and promote gender-responsive budgeting within health programs. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also developed guidance materials, such as the Gender in One Health: Guidance Note for Practitioners, which outlines practical steps to mainstream gender in One Health projects from community engagement to policy evaluation. Similarly, the Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN) and other regional consortia have implemented gender training programs for professionals working at the human–animal–environment interface. National governments are increasingly adopting gender-sensitive approaches to health security and zoonotic disease management. For instance, Kenya and Bangladesh have introduced gender indicators in their national One Health strategies to ensure that women’s contributions to animal health and environmental management are recognized and supported. Integrating gender perspectives also aligns with global commitments under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), and Goal 13 (Climate Action).

Research and Future Directions

Research on Gender and One Health has grown steadily over the past decade as scholars and policymakers recognize the importance of integrating social science perspectives into health and environmental studies. However, significant gaps remain in the systematic inclusion of gender analysis within One Health projects and surveillance systems. One key challenge identified by researchers is the lack of sex- and gender-disaggregated data in zoonotic disease surveillance, animal vaccination campaigns, and environmental monitoring. Without this data, it is difficult to assess differential risks, treatment outcomes, or the social impacts of disease outbreaks on women and men. For example, during avian influenza and Ebola outbreaks, studies found that women were disproportionately affected due to caregiving responsibilities and limited access to protective equipment, yet their experiences were underreported in official data. Recent research emphasizes the need for gender-transformative approaches, which aim not only to acknowledge gender differences but to challenge and reduce underlying inequalities that affect health outcomes. Gender-transformative One Health initiatives include participatory community surveillance programs that involve both women and men in outbreak detection, or livestock vaccination campaigns that prioritize women farmers’ access to resources and training. Interdisciplinary collaboration has also emerged as a research priority. Projects now increasingly combine veterinary epidemiology, public health, ecology, and gender studies to better understand how societal structures influence pathogen transmission and ecosystem health. For instance, the CGIAR One Health Initiative and FAO’s Gender-Responsive One Health framework support integrated research that links environmental sustainability with women’s empowerment and food security. Academic journals such as One Health, Frontiers in Public Health, and The Lancet Planetary Health have begun publishing special issues focused on gender and equity in One Health research. Emerging priorities include understanding the gendered dimensions of antimicrobial resistance, climate-related disease risk, and the social implications of wildlife trade. Looking forward, researchers highlight the importance of embedding gender indicators and social science expertise into One Health surveillance systems; strengthening partnerships between academic institutions, local communities, and policymakers; ensuring that gender analysis informs climate adaptation and biodiversity strategies; and supporting women’s leadership within One Health networks at national and international levels. These directions aim to advance a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable global health framework that recognizes how gender dynamics shape the complex interactions between people, animals, and the environment.

References

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