Gender Dimensions in Medical Access: An Intervention Study in the Central African Republic

In the Central African Republic, significant gender disparities exist in access to essential medicines, particularly for women's health. These disparities are influenced by complex socio-cultural and economic factors that are under-researched within the local context. This intervention study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a community-based programme to improve women's access to essential obstetric and gynaecological medicines. The primary objective was to assess the programme's impact on medicine procurement and utilisation from a gendered perspective. A mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design was employed. The intervention, delivered in selected districts, combined gender-sensitisation workshops for healthcare providers and community leaders with the establishment of women's medicine procurement groups. Control districts received standard care. Data were collected via surveys, focus group discussions, and health facility records. In intervention districts, reported barriers related to gender norms decreased. A key theme from qualitative data was increased female agency in healthcare decision-making. Quantitative data show an increase in the proportion of women collecting prescribed medicines from health centres. The intervention demonstrates the potential of integrating gender-focused community engagement with practical logistics support to improve women's access to medicines. Addressing deeply rooted gender dimensions is crucial for sustainable improvement. Programmes aiming to improve medicine access should incorporate explicit gender analysis and community mobilisation components. Policy should support the scale-up of women-centred procurement models and ongoing gender training for health workers. gender, access to medicines, maternal health, community intervention, Central African Republic, health equity This study provides evidence on the effectiveness of a gender-integrated intervention model in a fragile, under-studied setting, offering a practical framework for similar contexts in Sub-Saharan Africa.